infinite

Everyday

1. Infinite means without any end or limit; so big it can never be measured or counted. tree →
2. (informal) Infinite means extremely great: «infinite patience». tree →
3. (maths) An infinite set or line goes on for ever, like the counting numbers 1, 2, 3, …. tree →

In the lessons

In maths lessons pupils learn there are infinitely many numbers: you can always add 1. A line goes on infinitely in both directions; a line segment does not. In science, people wonder whether space is infinite. In everyday life it is used to exaggerate: «infinite homework». Symbol: ∞ (infinity). Phrases: «infinite number», «infinite patience».

Examples

• There is an infinite number of counting numbers. tree →
• The teacher has infinite patience. tree →
• Is the universe infinite? tree →
• A line is infinite, but a line segment has two ends. tree →
• You can't count to infinity because numbers are infinite. tree →
• The sky looked infinite from the mountain top. tree →
• The choices in the game seemed infinite. tree →
• Still this band of young bards would have been of infinite interest to Fionn, not on account of what they had learned, but because of what they knew. tree →

Note

Pronounced «IN-fin-it», not «in-FINE-ite» (even though «finite» is «FY-nite»). Opposite: finite. Noun: infinity; adverb: infinitely. Infinity is not a number you can reach; «infinity plus one» is still infinity. Some infinities are bigger than others, a surprising fact from maths.

In Jewish tradition

Sefer Yetzirah says the ten Sephiroth have no end, and Kalisch's note says all numbers flow from one unit, as everything flows from God.

Interpretation. Tradition reads the endlessness of the Sephiroth as a sign that God's creation and wisdom cannot be measured.

Examples

• These ten Sephiroth which are ineffable, whose appearance is like scintillating flames, have no end but are infinite. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1887) tree →
• 11) As the infinite series of numbers starts from one unit, so was the whole Universe formed a unity, that centres in the Godhead. (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) tree →
• How infinite numbers of words are formed out of the (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →
• Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite. (Writings PSA.147.5, JPS 1917) tree →
• Ethiopia and Egypt were thy strength, and it was infinite; Put and Lubim were thy helpers. (Prophets NAM.3.9, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Pronounced «IN-fin-it», not «in-FINE-ite» (even though «finite» is «FY-nite»). Opposite: finite. Noun: infinity; adverb: infinitely. Infinity is not a number you can reach; «infinity plus one» is still infinity. Some infinities are bigger than others, a surprising fact from maths.