fractal
n. C1 Advanced US //ˈfɹæktəɫ// UK //fɹˈæktəl// frac·tal
n. a complex shape that looks the same no matter how much you zoom in or out. It is made by repeating a simple pattern over and over again.
n. a geometric shape that exhibits self-similarity at various scales, meaning that each part of the shape is a smaller copy of the whole. Often generated by recursive mathematical algorithms.
The coastline looks like a fractal when you look at it from a distance.
Mathematicians use fractals to model natural phenomena like the branching of trees or the formation of clouds.
The Mandelbrot set is one of the most famous examples of a fractal, demonstrating how an infinitely complex boundary can be generated from a simple iterative equation.