Wordnet 3.0
NOUN (1)
1.
a straight line that is the limiting value of a curve;
can be considered as tangent at infinity;
- Example: "the asymptote of the curve"
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Asymptote \As"ymp*tote\ (?; 215), n. [Gr. ? not falling
together; 'a priv. + ? to fall together; ? with + ? to fall.
Cf. Symptom.] (Math.)
A line which approaches nearer to some curve than assignable
distance, but, though infinitely extended, would never meet
it. Asymptotes may be straight lines or curves. A rectilinear
asymptote may be conceived as a tangent to the curve at an
infinite distance.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
asymptote
n 1: a straight line that is the limiting value of a curve; can
be considered as tangent at infinity; "the asymptote of the
curve"
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:
23 Moby Thesaurus words for "asymptote":
approach, bottleneck, collision course, concentralization,
concentration, concourse, concurrence, confluence, conflux,
congress, convergence, converging, crossing, focalization, focus,
funnel, hub, meeting, mutual approach, narrowing gap, radius,
spokes, tangent