exponent

[ik-spoh-nuh nt, ek-spoh-nuh nt] /ɪkˈspoʊ nənt, ˈɛk spoʊ nənt/
noun
1.
a person or thing that expounds, explains, or interprets:
an exponent of modern theory in the arts.
2.
a person or thing that is a representative, advocate, type, or symbol of something:
Lincoln is an exponent of American democracy.
3.
Mathematics. a symbol or number placed above and after another symbol or number to denote the power to which the latter is to be raised:
The exponents of the quantities xn, 2m, y 4 , and 3 5 are, respectively, n, m, 4, and 5.
Origin
1575-85; < Latin expōnent- (stem of expōnēns), present participle of expōnere to expound; see -ent
Synonyms
1. supporter, champion, proponent, promoter. 2. embodiment, personification.
Examples from the web for exponent
  • The human mind is a direct exponent of the source of life.
  • Darwin could not have asked for a more talented exponent in the television age.
  • Now, however, there's only one known exponent who has the necessary patience and skill.
  • He was the most prominent exponent of the Gothic revival.
  • She became the most influential German exponent of expressive.
  • He is certainly a powerful exponent of musical theater.
  • He might now be hailed as an early exponent of globalization.
  • That's my inclination, too, as a less successful exponent of the same theory.
  • He was drawn into the current of revolutionary politics and became a leading exponent of their ideas.
  • As you can see, maximum complexity and polity size seems to be strongly contingent upon the scaling exponent.
British Dictionary definitions for exponent

exponent

/ɪkˈspəʊnənt/
noun
1.
(usually foll by of) a person or thing that acts as an advocate (of an idea, cause, etc)
2.
a person or thing that explains or interprets
3.
a performer or interpretive artist, esp a musician
4.
(maths) Also called power, index. a number or variable placed as a superscript to the right of another number or quantity indicating the number of times the number or quantity is to be multiplied by itself
adjective
5.
offering a declaration, explanation, or interpretation
Word Origin
C16: from Latin expōnere to set out, expound, from pōnere to set, place
Word Origin and History for exponent
n.

1706, from Latin exponentem (nominative exponens), present participle of exponere "put forth" (see expound). A mathematical term at first; the sense of "one who expounds" is 1812. As an adjective, from 1580s.

exponent in Science
exponent
  (ěk'spō'nənt, ĭk-spō'nənt)   
A number or symbol, placed above and to the right of the expression to which it applies, that indicates the number of times the expression is used as a factor. For example, the exponent 3 in 53 indicates 5 × 5 × 5; the exponent x in (a + b)x indicates (a + b) multiplied by itself x times.
exponent in Culture

exponent definition


A number placed above and to the right of another number to show that it has been raised to a power. For example, 32 indicates that 3 has been raised to a power of 2, or multiplied by itself; 32 is equal to 9.

exponent in Technology

programming
(Or "characteristic") The part of a floating-point number specifying the power of ten by which the mantissa should be multiplied. In the common notation, e.g. 3.1E8, the exponent is 8.
(1995-02-27)