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Glite Dictionary
exponential curve

exponential curve

1 5.8
A curve on a graph that rises or falls very quickly
  • noun
  • /ˌɛkspəˈnɛnʃəl kɜrv/
  • Specialized
: curva exponencial
  • The relationship between time and population growth can be illustrated by an exponential curve, showing significant increases over short periods.

I don't know what to call that, but the result is an exponential curve.

Examples

  • As the initial investment grows, the return on investment often follows an exponential curve, leading to larger profits as time progresses.

  • 1) Yes, they both follow an exponential curve.

    Blog text (5)

  • The lower end of the S-curve is a variation of an exponential curve.

    Academic text (2005)

  • With such an exponential curve, how can anyone expect to learn it all and cope with its ramifications?

    Academic text (2006)

  • The entire experiment was then repeated for a data set of thirty-two points scattered along a positive exponential curve.

    Academic text (1993)

  • Moore's Law applies to semiconductors, but storage, software, and some biotech are also on a similar exponential curve.

    Blog text (31)

  • History shows that all change has been sudden and culture-shocking, and when you look at how we've developed computer technology in the last decade, the culture shift curve has gone from linear to an exponential curve.

    Blog text (11)

  • In an opening day keynote address, Harvard genomics pioneer and founder of the Personal Genome Project George Church said of progress in the field: "We have not yet stagnated on the incredible exponential curve we are on."

    Blog text (25)

  • In finance, the rise in value of certain assets can often be represented by an exponential curve that reflects rapid appreciation.

Antonyms

linear function
  • Specialized
1 4.7

A rule that makes a straight line on a graph

Surface Forms

exponential curve singular
exponential curves plural

Morphology

exponential + curve

The phrase is a straightforward composition of 'exponential' (involving rapid/accelerating change or exponents) and 'curve' (a plotted line), so the meaning 'a curve representing an exponential function' follows directly from the parts. This is a conventional mathematical naming pattern and is cross-linguistically regular, so a learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Exponential curve paints a simple picture: the word exponential suggests something that grows faster and faster, and the curve is the bent line on a graph that suddenly shoots up or down. That's why exponential curve is used for a graph line that shows 'rapid increases or decreases'.