Rasterised

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The method of transforming vector graphics into a pixel-based format entails representing images through a grid of individual pixels
2. A conversion technique in computer graphics that changes scalable images into discrete pixel arrays suitable for rendering
3. The process of converting images from a mathematical representation into a bitmap format involves creating a structured array of pixels for display

Etymology: "Rasterised" is the past form of a verb built from "raster" plus the suffix "-ise", so its history is mostly the history of that suffix. The noun "raster" comes from German "Raster", meaning a grid or screen, and in computing it names the grid of pixels that makes up an image. To rasterise something is to convert it into that grid, turning smooth shapes and lines into a pattern of individual dots. The "-ise" ending has a long journey. It descends from ancient Greek "-izein", which formed verbs meaning "to make into" or "to treat in a certain way", and this passed through Late Latin "-izare" and Middle French "-iser" before arriving in Middle English as "-isen". So the suffix that lets English turn a noun into a verb of action carries the same basic idea of making something into another thing that the Greek verbs once did.

Synonyms: pixelated, mapped