Agency Dictionary

Equation

nounPronunciation: /ɪˈkweɪ.ʒən/

In Portuguese: Equação

Science & Health

What does “Equation” mean?

A complex statement or problem involving balancing multiple interdependent factors, variables, or meanings.

Etymology

From Latin aequatio, "a making equal, an equal sharing", from aequare, "to make level or equal", from aequus ("level, even, fair"), the source also of equal and equity. The word is found in late Middle English in astrology, for the division of the sky into equal parts. The mathematical sense, a statement that two expressions are equal, dates from the 16th century. The figurative use, for a situation in which several factors must be weighed together, is modern.

Usage note

In figurative use the word appears in set phrases such as "part of the equation" and "enter the equation", where it simply means the set of factors in play.

Synonyms

problem
puzzle
calculation
formula
balance

Word family

equate
equal
equality
equational
equator

Rhymes with

occasion
invasion
persuasion
evasion
abrasion

Usage examples

When you make the recipient of your messages solve the equation behind the imagery instead of giving it objectively, you can better engage and mark that person with what you are trying to communicate.
Design.0 - Beyond the Surface of Forms
When you make the recipient of your messages solve the equation behind the imagery instead of giving it objectively, you can better engage and mark that person with what you are trying to communicate.

Concepts

Source editions

Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.

Design.0 - Beyond the Surface of FormsMay 10, 2023Read the edition

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Pollinationnoun: The transfer of pollen grains from the male anther to the female stigma of a flower, enabling fertilization and seed production.
syntheticadjective: Produced by artificial or chemical synthesis rather than originating from natural or organic processes.
Anesthetizeverb: To administer an anesthetic to eliminate physical feeling, or figuratively to numb emotional or critical awareness.
Biomenoun: A large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat defined by climate and soil.
caffeinenoun: A naturally occurring central nervous system stimulant found in coffee beans, tea leaves, and cacao pods.
cannabisnoun: A genus of flowering plants cultivated for industrial fiber, wellness oils, and medicinal applications.
catalystnoun: A substance or factor that accelerates a chemical reaction or stimulates widespread systemic change without being consumed.
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Also from these editions: terms

Mazenoun: A complex network of interconnected paths, passages, or obstacles designed to puzzle and challenge navigation.
Discursiveadjective: Proceeding by reasoned argument or sequential exposition rather than by immediate visual intuition.
vocationnoun: A strong innate inclination or sense of purpose toward a particular career, craft, or calling.
Synchronicitynoun: The simultaneous occurrence of events that appear meaningfully related yet lack a direct causal connection.
Decompositionnoun: The natural biological or chemical process of decay, breakdown, or disintegration into constituent elements.
recipientnoun: The person who receives something. In communication, the one to whom a message is addressed and who interprets it, as opposed to the sender who composes it.
iconnoun: A simplified image that represents a thing by resembling it. In semiotics, a sign that signifies through likeness; in digital interfaces, a small picture that stands for an object or a function.
Stigmanoun: A mark of social disgrace, shame, or prejudice associated with a particular circumstance, trait, or behavior.
symbolismnoun: The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities, and the set of meanings that a form, an image or an object carries beyond its literal sense.
Desaturationnoun: The progressive loss or removal of chromatic intensity, rendering a color closer to a neutral gray.
Regenerativeadjective: Relating to or capable of renewing, restoring, or reforming biological vitality and structural equilibrium.
target audiencenoun: The specific group of people that a message, a product or a campaign is meant to reach, defined by what they have in common, such as needs, habits or interests.