See also: sùrd

English edit

Etymology edit

Borrowed from Latin surdus (deaf); in mathematical sense, "deaf to reason", i.e. irrational.

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

surd (plural surds)

  1. (arithmetic) An irrational number, especially one expressed using the √ symbol.
  2. (linguistics) A voiceless consonant.
    Antonym: sonant

Derived terms edit

Adjective edit

surd (comparative more surd, superlative most surd)

  1. (obsolete) Lacking the sense of hearing; deaf.
    • 1670s, published 1716, Thomas Browne, Christian Morals, part 3, section 6:
      …how all Words fall to the Ground, spent upon such a surd and Earless Generation of Men, stupid unto all Instruction…
  2. (obsolete) unheard
    • 1773, William Kenrick, A New Dictionary of the English Language, section 3, page 5:
      To this errour, of blending the ſurd and vocal modes of articulation together, may be added the too frequent uſe of compound articulations both vocal and ſurd.
  3. (mathematics) Involving surds, or irrational numbers; not capable of being expressed in rational numbers.
    a surd expression or quantity; a surd number
  4. (phonetics) unvoiced; voiceless
    Antonym: sonant

Related terms edit

Anagrams edit

Aromanian edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

From Latin surdus. Compare Romanian surd.

Adjective edit

surd m (feminine surde, plural surdz, feminine plural surdi)

  1. deaf

Related terms edit

Romanian edit

Etymology edit

Inherited from Latin surdus, from Proto-Indo-European *swer- (ringing, whistling). Compare Aromanian surdu.

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

surd m or n (feminine singular surdă, masculine plural surzi, feminine and neuter plural surde)

  1. deaf

Declension edit

Related terms edit

See also edit