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This term was coined in 1975 to describe shapes that seem to exist at both the small-scale and large-scale levels in the same natural object. Fractals can be seen in snowflakes, in which the microscopic crystals that make up a flake look much like the flake itself. They can also be seen in tree bark and in broccoli buds. Coastlines often represent fractals as well, being highly uneven at both a large scale and a very small scale. Fractal geometry has been important in many fields, including astronomy, physical chemistry, and fluid mechanics. And even some artists are benefiting, creating beautiful and interesting abstract designs by means of fractals.
Examples of fractal in a Sentence
Jordan Kellogg, The Enquirer, 24 Nov. 2024
Is there a relationship that’s well understood between these kinds of hierarchical scalings and things like fractal sets?
—Quanta Magazine, 3 July 2024
Today, just 40 years after its discovery, the fractal has become a cliché, borderline kitsch.
—Quanta Magazine, 26 Jan. 2024
The Mandelbrot set is more than a fractal, and not just in a metaphorical sense.
—Quanta Magazine, 26 Jan. 2024
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Dictionary Entries Near fractal
Cite this Entry
“Fractal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fractal. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
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fractal
noun
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