WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Surd
Part of Speech : a.
Etymology : [L. surdus deaf (whence the meaning, deaf to reason, irrational), perhaps akin to E. swart. Cf. Sordine.]
Definition : 1. Net having the sense of hearing; deaf. [Obs.] "A surd . . . generation." Sir T. Browne.

2. Unheard. [Obs.] Kenrick.

3. (Math.)

Defn: Involving surds; not capable of being expressed in rational numbers; radical; irrational; as, a surd expression or quantity; a surd number.

4. (Phonetics)

Defn: Uttered, as an element of speech, without tone, or proper vocal sound; voiceless; unintonated; nonvocal; atonic; whispered; aspirated; sharp; hard, as f, p, s, etc.; -- opposed to sonant. See Guide to Pronunciation, ??169, 179, 180.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Surd
Part of Speech : n.
Definition : 1. A quantity which can not be expressed by rational numbers; thus, *2 is a surd.

2. (Phon.)

Defn: A surd element of speech. See Surd, a., 4.

(Math.)
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913