Word Noun
fractal
n.
C1 Advanced US /ˈfɹæktəɫ/ UK /fɹˈæktəl/ frac·tal UK spelling fractals
Definition
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.
Examples
“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.”
This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated