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Continuous vs Perennial - What's the difference?

continuous | perennial | Related terms |

As adjectives the difference between continuous and perennial

is that continuous is without break, cessation, or interruption; without intervening time while perennial is lasting or remaining active throughout the year, or all the time.

As a noun perennial is

a perennial plant; a plant that is active throughout the year or survives for more than two growing seasons. Compare {{term|annual}}, {{term|biennial}}.

continuous

English

Adjective

(-)
  • Without break, cessation, or interruption; without intervening time.
    • a continuous current of electricity
  • * 1847 , , Ticknor and Fields (1854), page 90:
    • he can hear its continuous murmur
  • Without intervening space; continued; protracted; extended.
    • a continuous line of railroad
  • (botany) Not deviating or varying from uniformity; not interrupted; not joined or articulated.
  • (analysis, of a function) Such that, for every x'' in the domain, for each small open interval ''D'' about ''f''(''x''), there's an interval containing ''x'' whose image is in ''D .
  • (mathematics, more generally, of a function) Such that each open set in the range has an open preimage.
    • Each continuous function from the real line to the rationals is constant, since the rationals are totally disconnected.
  • (grammar) Expressing an ongoing action or state.

    • Usage notes

    *

    Synonyms

    * (without break, cessation, or interruption in time''): constant, continual (''but see usage notes above ), incessant, never-ending, ongoing, unbroken, unceasing, unending, uninterrupted * (without break, cessation, or interruption in space ): connected, unbroken * See also

    Antonyms

    * (without break, cessation, or interruption in time ): broken, discontinuous, discrete, intermittent, interrupted * (without break, cessation, or interruption in space ): broken, disconnected, disjoint, unbroken * (in mathematical analysis ): discontinuous, stepwise

    Derived terms

    * continuous brake * continuous impost * continuously * continuousness (in mathematics) * continuous distribution * continuous function * continuous group * continuous line illusion * continuous map * continuous mapping theorem * continuous space * continuous vector bundle * continuously differentiable function * uniformly continuous

    Related terms

    * continuity * continued * continuum

    See also

    * constant * contiguous

    References

    perennial

    English

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Lasting or remaining active throughout the year, or all the time.
    • a perennial stream
  • (botany, of a plant) Having a life cycle of more than two years. Compare (annual), (biennial).
  • (figuratively) Continuing without cessation or intermission; perpetual; permanent; unceasing; never failing.
  • * 1790 ,
    • The perennial existence of bodies corporate and their fortunes are things particularly suited to a man who has long views…
  • (figuratively) Enduring; lasting; timeless.
    • His artwork has a perennial beauty.
  • (figuratively) Recurrent; appearing or recurring again and again.
    • Change is a perennial theme in politics.

    Derived terms

    * perennially

    Noun

    (Perennial plant) (en noun)
  • A perennial plant; a plant that is active throughout the year or survives for more than two growing seasons. Compare (annual), (biennial).