Graph
/ɡræf/
Definitions
2 meaningsA diagram that represents data or relationships between data in a structured format using lines, curves, or bars.
/ɡræf/
A diagram showing the relationship between two or more things.
The teacher asked the students to draw a graph showing the increase in population over the last century.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're trying to show how something changes, like the temperature or the number of friends you have. A graph is like a special picture that shows how those things are related, so you can see the changes easily. For example, a line graph might show how a plant grows taller over time.
👶 For kids: A drawing that shows information using lines or bars.
More Examples
The scientist used a graph to illustrate the results of the experiment.
We can see the trend more clearly in the graph.
How It's Used
"The student created a graph to represent the relationship between the variables."
"The company used a graph to analyze sales trends over time."
"The software uses a graph data structure for efficient search and retrieval."
To represent data on a graph or chart.
/ɡræf/
To plot or draw a graph.
The students were asked to graph the results of their experiment.
💡 Simply: When you 'graph' something, you're making a picture (a graph) to show how data relates. Imagine you have numbers from a science experiment and want to make them easier to understand, you can draw it as a graph!
👶 For kids: To draw a picture to show numbers.
More Examples
Using the new software, we can now graph our data in real time.
He graphed the function on the coordinate plane to visualize its behavior.
How It's Used
"The mathematician graphed the function on the coordinate plane."
"The data was graphed to visually analyze the results of the experiment."
Idioms & expressions
graph paper
Paper printed with a grid of small squares, used for making graphs.
"She used graph paper to plot the points for her science project."
From Late Latin *graphium*, from Greek *graphō* (γράφω), meaning "to write, draw".
The term "graph" has been used in mathematics and science for centuries, with early examples dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries, when mathematicians developed techniques for representing and analyzing data.