topology
/təˈpɒl.ə.dʒi/ IELTSAcademic
noun
The study of shapes, spaces, and how parts are connected. In mathematics, it looks at what stays the same when shapes are stretched or bent.
- Topology studies how spaces are connected.
- She is taking a course in topology.
- The shape changed, but the topology stayed the same.
Adinary Nuance
Topology is more specific than 'geometry'. Geometry studies size, angles, and exact shape, while topology studies connection and structure. It is also more technical than 'shape' or 'layout', which are used in everyday English. In academic writing, topology usually means the mathematical field, not a general description of form.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- tô-pô học
- Spanish
- topología
- Chinese
- 拓扑学
- Japanese
- 位相幾何学
- Korean
- 위상수학
Etymology
Topology comes from Greek roots meaning 'place' and 'study'. It entered English in the 19th century as a mathematics term.
Common phrases
topology of a spacealgebraic topologytopological spacenetwork topology
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is topology the same as geometry?
- No. Geometry focuses on exact shape, size, and angles. Topology focuses on connections and what changes little when a shape is bent or stretched.
- Is topology used outside mathematics?
- Yes. It is also used in fields like computer networks and data analysis.
- Is topology a common everyday word?
- No. It is mainly an academic and technical word.