logarithm
noun
log·a·rithm ˈlȯ-gə-ˌri-t͟həm 
ˈlä-
: the exponent that indicates the power to which a base number is raised to produce a given number
the logarithm of 100 to the base 10 is 2
logarithmic
ˌlȯ-gə-ˈrit͟h-mik
adjective ˌlä-
logarithmically
ˌlȯ-gə-ˈrit͟h-mi-k(ə-)lē
adverb ˌlä-
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The same team also computed a discrete logarithm of a different key of the same size. 
Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 5 July 2022 Technology is great, but sometimes answers are simpler than a logarithm. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 21 Apr. 2022 Traditional encryption uses schemes based on complex mathematics such as factoring (breaking an integer down to its prime factors) or discrete logarithm. Adrienne Bernhard, Popular Mechanics, 26 Oct. 2021 Given that a function can’t be divided by zero and zero has no logarithm, this value might cause software to malfunction if it wasn’t specifically planned for. Adrienne Bernhard, Popular Mechanics, 2 July 2021 Though Dvorkin attributes secrecy behind the FICO logarithm to the spreading of myths about precise math behind creating the credit risk score commonly used by lenders, FICO does offer up some of the details. Rich Exner, cleveland, 29 Apr. 2021 Finding the power of 10 that a number is raised to is exactly what a logarithm does. Rhett Allain, Wired, 27 Nov. 2020 In a simple statistical model, Manrubia and her colleagues showed that the average number of generations separating two random present-day individuals from a common genealogical ancestor depends on the logarithm of the relevant population’s size. Scott Hershberger, Scientific American, 5 Oct. 2020 The new algorithm checks planarity in a number of steps proportional to the cube of the logarithm of the number of nodes in the graph — an exponential improvement. Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2020 See More
Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 5 July 2022 Technology is great, but sometimes answers are simpler than a logarithm. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 21 Apr. 2022 Traditional encryption uses schemes based on complex mathematics such as factoring (breaking an integer down to its prime factors) or discrete logarithm. Adrienne Bernhard, Popular Mechanics, 26 Oct. 2021 Given that a function can’t be divided by zero and zero has no logarithm, this value might cause software to malfunction if it wasn’t specifically planned for. Adrienne Bernhard, Popular Mechanics, 2 July 2021 Though Dvorkin attributes secrecy behind the FICO logarithm to the spreading of myths about precise math behind creating the credit risk score commonly used by lenders, FICO does offer up some of the details. Rich Exner, cleveland, 29 Apr. 2021 Finding the power of 10 that a number is raised to is exactly what a logarithm does. Rhett Allain, Wired, 27 Nov. 2020 In a simple statistical model, Manrubia and her colleagues showed that the average number of generations separating two random present-day individuals from a common genealogical ancestor depends on the logarithm of the relevant population’s size. Scott Hershberger, Scientific American, 5 Oct. 2020 The new algorithm checks planarity in a number of steps proportional to the cube of the logarithm of the number of nodes in the graph — an exponential improvement. Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
New Latin logarithmus, from log- + Greek arithmos number — more at arithmetic
First Known Use
circa 1616, in the meaning defined above