a. [ L. discretus, p. p. of discernere. See Discreet. ] 1. Separate; distinct; disjunct. Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. Disjunctive; containing a disjunctive or discretive clause; as, “I resign my life, but not my honor, ” is a discrete proposition. [ 1913 Webster ]
3. (Bot.) Separate; not coalescent; -- said of things usually coalescent. [ 1913 Webster ]
Discrete movement. See Concrete movement of the voice, under Concrete, a. --
Discrete proportion, proportion where the ratio of the means is different from that of either couplet; as, 3:6::8:16, 3 bearing the same proportion to 6 as 8 does to 16. But 3 is not to 6 as 6 to 8. It is thus opposed to continued or continual proportion; as, 3:6::12:24. --
Discrete quantity, that which must be divided into units, as number, and is opposed to continued quantity, as duration, or extension. [ 1913 Webster ]