exponential — English Dictionary

Adjective

1. Expressed in terms of an exponent (power of a base), the base often being 10 or e.

   Examples

   In base-10 exponential form, 1,000,000 is written as 10⁶.

   If not otherwise specified, "the" exponential function is normally understood to mean eˣ.

2. Characterised by a rate of change that is proportional to the value of the varying quantity, or, equivalently, by a doubling or halving over successive fixed intervals of time or other parameter, described as exponential growth or exponential decay.

   Examples

   There were two deaths on Monday, four on Tuesday, and eight on Wednesday. The rate of increase seems exponential.

   More examples (1)

   ... Students apply the definition of slope to various representations of growth functions to discover differences between exponential and constant rate of growth.

3. Characterised by a very rapid rate of change, especially increase, or merely a very large amount or degree.

   Usage

   • broadly

   Synonyms

   extremehuge

   Examples

   Near-synonyms: extreme, huge

   There's been an exponential rise in the number of crimes reported this year, compared to last year.

   More examples (3)

   If loans are not what you are looking for, then search for scholarships [...] I have been putting together scholarship letters for parents over the past decade, and there is an exponential amount of money to be had.

   It is also about an arms control forum that has been meeting just once every five years for decision making on topics that are moving with exponential velocity [...]

   Of course, one can creatively conjure up a host of things robot-politicians can do at exponential speed and scale, from shaking hands and kissing babies to handling the fundraising “robocalls” that frustrate American voters.

Noun

1. Any function that has an exponent as an independent variable.

   Synonyms

   exponential function

Adjective

1. of or involving exponents

   Examples

   exponential growth

Noun

1. a function in which an independent variable appears as an exponent

   Synonyms

   exponential function

   Broader terms

   functionmathematical functionsingle-valued functionmapmapping