Fractal
/ˈfræk.təl/noun
A complex geometric shape made up of patterns that repeat at different scales.
Did you know?The term 'fractal' was coined by mathematician Benoît Mandelbrot in 1975, but its roots point to a world where chaos and order intertwine, reflecting the universe's secret patterns.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
fractus
“Broken or shattered.”
Medieval Latin
Medieval Latin
fractalem
“Pertaining to being broken or fractured.”
1930s
English
fractal
“Describing geometric shapes that exhibit a repeating pattern at every scale.”
1975
English
fractal
“Formally defined by Benoît Mandelbrot to describe complex, self-similar structures.”
Explore more surprising origins