timelike

1 9.9

A difference in time between events that lets one event affect another

adjective
/ˈtaɪmˌlaɪk/

Specialized

: temporal

In physics, a timelike interval signifies a separation between events that allows for one to influence the other.

Examples

When discussing relativity, it's important to differentiate between spacelike and timelike separations to understand causal relationships.
These kinds of intervals, these negative intervals, these are called timelike because the time term is larger than the distance turn.
The particle's path was classified as timelike, indicating that it could connect cause and effect in our universe.

Synonyms

temporal

vstimelike

99 7.0

About time or not lasting forever

is specific to physics intervals or directions that allow cause and effect

Surface Forms

timelike positive

Morphology

timelike = time (semi-transparent) = time + like

The form is transparently 'time' + '-like', but the listed sense is a technical physics term whose precise meaning requires domain knowledge beyond a straightforward 'similar to time' inference.

Etymology

Timelike is made of time ('time') and -like ('similar to'), just like in 'childlike' or 'lifelike'. So in physics, timelike describes an interval that is 'like time' and where one event can cause or affect another.