Agency Dictionary

density

nounPronunciation: /ˈden.sɪ.ti/

In Portuguese: densidade

What does “density” mean?

The quantity of mass, pixels, or information concentrated within a given unit of area or space.

Etymology

From French densité, from Latin densitas, "thickness", from densus, "thick, crowded, compact". The word has been in English since about 1600. Physics fixed its technical sense, mass per unit of volume, and other fields followed the same pattern of a quantity divided by a space: population density, pixel density, information density.

Usage note

For screens, density is measured in pixels per inch (ppi); for print, in dots per inch (dpi). Higher density means finer detail in the same area.

Synonyms

compactness
thickness
concentration
denseness
solidity

Often confused with

resolution: Resolution is the total number of pixels in an image or screen; density is how many of them fit in each unit of length or area.

Word family

dense
densely
denseness
densify
condense

Rhymes with

intensity
immensity
propensity

Concepts

Source editions

Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.

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Also from these editions: terms

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wireframenoun: A skeletal visual guide that outlines the basic structure, hierarchy, and functionality of a user interface.
briefingnoun: A concise set of instructions or background information provided to guide a project or creative assignment.
autonomynoun: The condition or power of self-governance, independent decision-making, and freedom from external control.
concoctverb: To invent, devise, or fabricate something novel by combining various elements or ideas.
diagnosticnoun: An analytical determination or judgment identifying the underlying nature, cause, or source of a problem.
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hippocraticadjective: Relating to Hippocrates or the ethical medical code that prioritizes patient care and moral duty.
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imposternoun: A person who practices deception under an assumed character, identity, or false professional claim.
Interconnectedadjective: Having all constituent parts or elements mutually connected, reciprocal, or interrelated in such a manner that changes in one directly affect the condition or behavior of the others.
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