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tilde

tilde

1 6.5
A small wavy line ~ used in writing, math or computing to show that two numbers are almost equal
  • noun
  • /ˈtɪl.də/
  • Specialized
: tilde
  • posted by tilde at 7:14 AM on September 13.

Examples

  • And that is the tilde I mentioned; it's at the upper left on a PC keyboard in the numbers row.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • OK, now it turns out we can get these X tilde's very easily by a couple of matrix operations.

  • This is the same as if I put tildes all over these things.

  • URL, university tilde user, you know.

  • So we'll always use tildes to talk about frequency type things.

  • I forgot to type in the tilde, and instead of typing http://www.celestial.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • This stuff, all my I sub L tildes would become sil~ This would become SV~ right?

  • In programming, the tilde symbol is used to denote home directories on Unix-based systems.

  • The tilde often appears in mathematical expressions to indicate approximation.

  • You can find the tilde key located on the upper left side of most computer keyboards.

Synonyms

sign
vstilde
37 4.8

A mark that shows if a number is positive or negative

is a single specific symbol used for approximation, negation, and other functions
mathematical symbol
vstilde
  • Specialized
1 3.5

A sign used in math to show an operation, number, or relation

is a specific character used for approximation, negation, and similar special uses

Surface Forms

tilde singular
tildes plural

Etymology

The word tilde comes from the Latin titulus, meaning 'title' or 'mark', and is the same root as the English word title. It is a small mark or 'wiggle' that can sit over letters and is also used in math and computing to show things like 'approximately equal' or other special meanings.