correlation
n.-
1 general connection (n.) B2 Upper Intermediatea connection between two things where one seems to affect the other, or they happen at the same time.
a reciprocal or complementary relationship between two or more comparable objects or phenomena.
ExampleResearchers found a strong correlation between a healthy diet and a long life.
ExampleThe study suggests a significant correlation between early childhood literacy programmes and long-term academic success in secondary education.
UsageCommonly used with the preposition 'between'.
- difference
- disconnection
PitfallThere is a correlation of high prices and low quality.There is a correlation between high prices and low quality.Use the preposition 'between' to link the two things being compared.
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2 statistical measure (n.) C1 Advanced Technical Academic Matha number in math that shows how closely two sets of data are linked.
a measure of the linear relationship between two random variables, indicating the strength and direction of their association.
ExampleThe correlation coefficient was 0.8, showing the two variables were closely linked.
ExampleA high positive correlation indicates that as one variable increases, the other tends to increase in a predictable linear fashion.
UsageOften appears in the phrase 'correlation coefficient'.
Teacher's tipTeachers should remind students that 'correlation does not imply causation'—just because two things happen together doesn't mean one caused the other.
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3 geometry (n.) C2 Proficiency Technical Matha special type of matching in advanced geometry between points and planes.
an isomorphism from a projective space to the dual of a projective space.
ExampleThe professor explained how a correlation maps points to planes in projective geometry.
ExampleIn the study of projective planes, a correlation is a transformation that switches the roles of points and lines while preserving incidence.
From Middle French corrélation. Morphologically correlate + -ion.