different between incommensurable vs taxonomy

English

Etymology

From Middle French incommensurable, from Medieval Latin incommensurabilis.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?nk??m?n?(?)??b?l/, /?nk??m?nsj????b?l/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?n.k??m?n(t)s.??.b?l/, /?n.k??m?n(t)?.??.b?l/, /?n.k??m?n(t).s?.??.b?l/, /?n.k??m?n(t).??.??.b?l/

Adjective

incommensurable (comparative more incommensurable, superlative most incommensurable)

1. (mathematics) Of two real numbers, such that their ratio is not a fraction of two integers.
2. (arithmetics) Of two integers, having no common integer divisor except 1.
3. Not able to be measured by the same standards as another term in the context.

   The side and diagonal of a square are incommensurable with each other; the diameter and circumference of a circle are incommensurable.

Usage notes

The term contrasts with unmeasurable and immeasurable in that both mean "not able to be measured at all", with the latter generally being because of some infinite quality of the thing being described.

Related terms

• incommensurate

Translations

Noun

incommensurable (plural incommensurables)

1. An incommensurable value or quantity; an irrational number.
   • 1946, Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, ch. 3:

     Unfortunately for Pythagoras, his theorem led at once to the discovery of incommensurables, which appeared to disprove his whole philosophy.

Further reading

• incommensurable in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• incommensurable in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• incommensurable at OneLook Dictionary Search

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Late Latin incommens?r?bilis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??.k?.m??.sy.?abl/

Adjective

incommensurable (plural incommensurables)

1. (mathematics) incommensurable
2. immeasurable

   Synonym: immense

Derived terms

• incommensurablement

Further reading

• “incommensurable” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French taxonomie. Surface analysis taxo- +? -nomy.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /tæk?s?n?mi/
• (US) IPA^(key): /tæk?s??n?mi/
• Rhymes: -?n?mi

Noun

taxonomy (countable and uncountable, plural taxonomies)

1. The science or the technique used to make a classification.
2. A classification; especially, a classification in a hierarchical system.
3. (taxonomy, uncountable) The science of finding, describing, classifying and naming organisms.

Synonyms

• taxonomics
• (science of finding, describing, classifying and naming organisms): alpha taxonomy

Coordinate terms

• nomenclature
• ontology

Derived terms

Translations