Discrete ideas or things are separate and distinct from each other.
[formal]
...instruction manuals that break down jobs into scores of discrete steps.
Synonyms: separate, individual, distinct, detached More Synonyms of discrete
discrete in British English
(dɪsˈkriːt)
adjective
1.
separate or distinct in form or concept
2.
consisting of distinct or separate parts
3. statistics
a.
(of a variable) having consecutive values that are not infinitesimally close, so that its analysis requires summation rather than integration
b.
(of a distribution) relating to a discrete variable
Compare continuous (sense 4)
▶ USAGE Avoid confusion with discreet
Derived forms
discretely (disˈcretely)
adverb
discreteness (disˈcreteness)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Latin discrētus separated, set apart; see discreet
discrete in American English
(dɪˈskrit)
adjective
1.
separate and distinct; not attached to others; unrelated
2.
made up of distinct parts; discontinuous
3.
designating or of an electronic circuit having separate transistors, resistors, etc.
Derived forms
discretely (disˈcretely)
adverb
discreteness (disˈcreteness)
noun
Word origin
ME discret: see discreet
Examples of 'discrete' in a sentence
discrete
Limited war was no longer a discrete phenomenon but part of a wider whole.
Mcinnes, Colin & Sheffield G.D (eds.) Warfare in the Twentieth Century (1988)
Flow charts show the organization or relationships between discrete parts of a system.
Porush, David A Short Guide to Writing About Science (1995)
These blocks should not be considered as discrete units which can simply be placed next to one another.
Lee Harvey Critical Social Research (1990)
The chapters are intense, almost discrete sections that flit between characters affected by the deaths.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It tells its story in three linked but discrete sections, each focused on different characters.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The measure is plain to see, forming a discrete part of a main government Bill.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
(adjective)
Definition
separate or distinct
the process seen as a sequence of discrete phases
Synonyms
separate
The two things are separate and mutually irrelevant.
individual
waiting for the group to decide rather than making individual decisions
distinct
The book is divided into two distinct parts.
detached
He lost his sight because of a detached retina.
disconnected
unattached
discontinuous
the discontinuous nature of the country's economic development
Usage note
This word is quite often used by mistake where discreet is intended: reading is a set of discrete skills; she was discreet (not discrete) about the affair.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of detached
Definition
separate or standing apart
He lost his sight because of a detached retina.
Synonyms
separate,
free,
severed,
disconnected,
loosened,
discrete,
unconnected,
undivided,
disjoined
in the sense of discontinuous
Definition
characterized by interruptions
the discontinuous nature of the country's economic development