superposition
|su-per-po-si-tion|
🇺🇸
/ˌsuːpərpəˈzɪʃən/
🇬🇧
/ˌsuːpəpəˈzɪʃən/
overlay or coexistence
Etymology
'superposition' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'superpositio,' where 'super-' meant 'above' and 'positio' meant 'placing.'
'superpositio' transformed into the French word 'superposition,' and eventually became the modern English word 'superposition' through Middle English.
Initially, it meant 'placing one thing over another,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning in physics of 'existing in multiple states simultaneously.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the placement of one thing on top of another, especially so that both are still evident.
The superposition of the two images created a unique effect.
Synonyms
Noun 2
in physics, the principle that a physical system exists partly in all its particular, theoretically possible states simultaneously, but, when measured or observed, it gives a result corresponding to one of the possible configurations.
Quantum superposition allows particles to be in multiple states at once.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45