1
: a real number rather than a vector
2
: a quantity (such as mass or time) that has a magnitude describable by a real number and no direction
Examples of scalar in a Sentence
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Erico Guizzo, IEEE Spectrum, 19 May 2018
The simplest option is what’s called a slowly rolling scalar field.
—Marc Kamionkowski, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2024
Mark Hachman, PCWorld, 2 Dec. 2020
Their next step is to make more realistic calculations that go beyond elementary scalar fields and incorporate messier forms of matter and radiation.
—Quanta Magazine, 2 Dec. 2019
See All Example Sentences for scalar
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Adjective
The volume-to-surfaces decomposition is achieved by optimizing for a scalar field within the volume that represents the fabrication sequence.
—Erico Guizzo, IEEE Spectrum, 19 May 2018
The simplest option is what’s called a slowly rolling scalar field.
—Marc Kamionkowski, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2024
Noun
By placing the scalar, tensor, and vector accelerators next to one another, the workloads can be shared among them.
—Mark Hachman, PCWorld, 2 Dec. 2020
Their next step is to make more realistic calculations that go beyond elementary scalar fields and incorporate messier forms of matter and radiation.
—Quanta Magazine, 2 Dec. 2019
See All Example Sentences for scalar
Cite this Entry
“Scalar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scalar. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
scalar
2 of 2 noun1
: a real number rather than a vector
2
: a quantity (as mass or time) that has a magnitude which can be described by a real number but no direction
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