Continuums

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A set of connected elements that exist along a range or spectrum, often less clearly defined and more fluid than discrete categories
2. An arrangement of points or stages in a sequence that allows for smooth transitions, lacking distinct boundaries between members
3. A concept or system where variations exist between two extremes, indicating a gradual progression rather than abrupt changes

Etymology: "Continuums" is the plural of "continuum," a noun whose meaning is a range running between extremes. The singular was borrowed from Latin "continuum," the neuter form of "continuus," meaning uninterrupted or unbroken. That adjective comes from "contineō," a verb meaning to hold together or enclose, built from "con-" (together) and "teneō" (to hold). The literal sense is therefore something held together without a break. A continuum is a whole in which one state flows into the next with no sharp dividing line, which is why it came to describe a scale stretching between two opposite poles, such as one end of a spectrum to the other. The plural simply counts several such unbroken ranges.

Synonyms: spectra