a. [ L. definitis, p. p. of definire: cf. F. défini. See Define. ] 1. Having certain or distinct; determinate in extent or greatness; limited; fixed; as, definite dimensions; a definite measure; a definite period or interval. [ 1913 Webster ]

Elements combine in definite proportions. Whewell. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having certain limits in signification; determinate; certain; precise; fixed; exact; clear; as, a definite word, term, or expression. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Determined; resolved. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Serving to define or restrict; limiting; determining; as, the definite article. [ 1913 Webster ]

Definite article (Gram.), the article the, which is used to designate a particular person or thing, or a particular class of persons or things; -- also called a definitive. See Definitive, n. - -
Definite inflorescence. (Bot.) See Determinate inflorescence, under Determinate. --
Law of definite proportions (Chem.), the essential law of chemical combination that every definite compound always contains the same elements in the same proportions by weight; and, if two or more elements form more than one compound with each other, the relative proportions of each are fixed. Compare Law of multiple proportions, under Multiple. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A thing defined or determined. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a definite manner; with precision; precisely; determinately. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state of being definite; determinateness; precision; certainty. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. finitus, p. p. of finire. See Finish, and cf. Fine, a. ] Having a limit; limited in quantity, degree, or capacity; bounded; -- opposed to infinite; as, finite number; finite existence; a finite being; a finite mind; finite duration. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Infinite. [ Obs. ] Sir T. browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a finite manner or degree. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state of being finite. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. indefinitus. See In- not, and Definite. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Not definite; not limited, defined, or specified; not explicit; not determined or fixed upon; not precise; uncertain; vague; confused; obscure; as, an indefinite time, plan, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

It were to be wished that . . . men would leave off that indefinite way of vouching, “the chymists say this, ” or “the chymists affirm that.” Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

The time of this last is left indefinite. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having no determined or certain limits; large and unmeasured, though not infinite; unlimited; as, indefinite space; the indefinite extension of a straight line. [ 1913 Webster ]

Though it is not infinite, it may be indefinite; though it is not boundless in itself, it may be so to human comprehension. Spectator. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Boundless; infinite. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Indefinite and omnipresent God,
Inhabiting eternity. W. Thompson (1745). [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Bot.) Too numerous or variable to make a particular enumeration important; -- said of the parts of a flower, and the like. Also, indeterminate. [ 1913 Webster ]

Indefinite article (Gram.), the word a or an, used with nouns to denote any one of a common or general class. --
Indefinite inflorescence. (Bot.) See Indeterminate inflorescence, under Indeterminate. --
Indefinite proposition (Logic), a statement whose subject is a common term, with nothing to indicate distribution or nondistribution; as, Man is mortal. --
Indefinite term (Logic), a negative term; as, the not-good.

Syn. -- Inexplicit; vague; uncertain; unsettled; indeterminate; loose; equivocal; inexact; approximate. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an indefinite manner or degree; without any settled limitation; vaguely; not with certainty or exactness; as, to use a word indefinitely. [ 1913 Webster ]

If the world be indefinitely extended, that is, so far as no human intellect can fancy any bound of it. Ray. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being indefinite. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. infinitus: cf. F. infini. See In- not, and Finite. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Unlimited or boundless, in time or space; as, infinite duration or distance. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whatever is finite, as finite, will admit of no comparative relation with infinity; for whatever is less than infinite is still infinitely distant from infinity; and lower than infinite distance the lowest or least can not sink. H. Brooke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Without limit in power, capacity, knowledge, or excellence; boundless; immeasurably or inconceivably great; perfect; as, the infinite wisdom and goodness of God; -- opposed to finite. [ 1913 Webster ]

Great is our Lord, and of great power; his understanding is infinite. Ps. cxlvii. 5. [ 1913 Webster ]

O God, how infinite thou art! I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Indefinitely large or extensive; great; vast; immense; gigantic; prodigious. [ 1913 Webster ]

Infinite riches in a little room. Marlowe. [ 1913 Webster ]

Which infinite calamity shall cause
To human life. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Math.) Greater than any assignable quantity of the same kind; -- said of certain quantities. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Mus.) Capable of endless repetition; -- said of certain forms of the canon, called also perpetual fugues, so constructed that their ends lead to their beginnings, and the performance may be incessantly repeated. Moore (Encyc. of Music).

Syn. -- Boundless; immeasurable; illimitable; interminable; limitless; unlimited; endless; eternal. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. That which is infinite; boundless space or duration; infinity; boundlessness. [ 1913 Webster ]

Not till the weight is heaved from off the air, and the thunders roll down the horizon, will the serene light of God flow upon us, and the blue infinite embrace us again. J. Martineau. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Math.) An infinite quantity or magnitude. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. An infinity; an incalculable or very great number. [ 1913 Webster ]

Glittering chains, embroidered richly o'er
With infinite of pearls and finest gold. Fanshawe. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The Infinite Being; God; the Almighty. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. (Computers) a series of instructions in a computer program which, when executed, cause a cyclic repetition of the same instructions, with no other action by the program, for as long as the program continues to be executed, or the loop is interrupted by some external action. [ PJC ]

☞ An infinite loop is rarely written intentionally except in cases where the loop is intended merely as a waiting sequence, to be interrupted by some action of the user. It is more commonly the result of a serious logical error on the part of the programmer, resulting in a failure of the program. Its execution can be halted only by halting execution of the program, e.g. by intervention of the operating system or by halting or resetting the computer. In single-user systems, when executing an infinite loop, the computer will appear to halt operation of the program, and the program will be unresponsive to normal keyboard input, though it may be interrupted by an unmasked interrupt. [ PJC ]

adv. 1. Without bounds or limits; beyond or below assignable limits; as, an infinitely large or infinitely small quantity. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Very; exceedingly; vastly; highly; extremely. “Infinitely pleased.” Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state or quality of being infinite; infinity; greatness; immensity. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Philosophy, Logic) A causal relationship transmitted through an indefinite number of terms in a series, with no term that begins the causal chain. [ PJC ]

a. [ Cf. F. infinitésimal, fr. infinitésime infinitely small, fr. L. infinitus. See Infinite, a. ] Infinitely or indefinitely small; less than any assignable quantity or value; very small. [ 1913 Webster ]

Infinitesimal calculus, the different and the integral calculus, when developed according to the method used by Leibnitz, who regarded the increments given to variables as infinitesimal. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Math.) An infinitely small quantity; that which is less than any assignable quantity. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. By infinitesimals; in infinitely small quantities; in an infinitesimal degree. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. (Grammar) Infinitive, uninflected; -- of verbs. Opposite of finite.
Syn. -- infinite. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ L. praefinitus, p. p. ] Prearranged. [ Obs. ] “ Set and prefinite time.” Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]