exponential
/ˌɛkspəˈnɛnʃ(ə)l
/adjective
1(Of an increase) becoming more and more rapid: the social security budget was rising at an exponential rate...
- As you'll soon learn, an exponential increase in strength and effectiveness is best met with restraint and caution, not bloodlust.
- Well, unfortunately the models produce linear warming with exponential increases in carbon dioxide.
- This led to an exponential increase in the number of troops based in the area.
2 Mathematics Of or expressed by a mathematical exponent: an exponential curve...
- Those of you familiar with the mathematics of an exponential curve will note, however, that it is one of diminishing returns.
- Just as the forward function resembles the exponential curve, the inverse function appears similar to the logarithm.
- Napier also found exponential expressions for trigonometric functions, and introduced the decimal notation for fractions.
Origin
Early 18th century: from French exponentiel, from Latin exponere 'put out' (see expound).