IMAGINARY

Pronunciation (US):

• IMAGINARY (noun)
  The noun IMAGINARY has 1 sense:

1. (mathematics) a number of the form a+bi where a and b are real numbers and i is the square root of -1

  Familiarity information: IMAGINARY used as a noun is very rare.

• IMAGINARY (adjective)
  The adjective IMAGINARY has 1 sense:

1. not based on fact; dubious

  Familiarity information: IMAGINARY used as an adjective is very rare.

• IMAGINARY (noun)

Meaning:

(mathematics) a number of the form a+bi where a and b are real numbers and i is the square root of -1

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Synonyms:

complex number; complex quantity; imaginary; imaginary number

Hypernyms ("imaginary" is a kind of...):

number (a concept of quantity derived from zero and units)

Meronyms (parts of "imaginary"):

imaginary part; imaginary part of a complex number (the part of a complex number that has the square root of -1 as a factor)

Domain category:

math; mathematics; maths (a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "imaginary"):

complex conjugate (either of two complex numbers whose real parts are identical and whose imaginary parts differ only in sign)

real; real number (any rational or irrational number)

pure imaginary number (an imaginary number of the form a+bi where a is 0)

• IMAGINARY (adjective)

Meaning:

Not based on fact; dubious

Synonyms:

imaginary; imagined; notional; fanciful

Context examples:

the falsehood about some fanciful secret treaties / a small child's imaginary friends / her imagined fame / to create a notional world for oneself

Similar:

unreal (lacking in reality or substance or genuineness; not corresponding to acknowledged facts or criteria)