| 释义 |
convergence|kənˈvɜːdʒəns|
[f. convergent: see -ence.]
1. a. The action or fact of converging; movement directed toward or terminating in the same point (called the point of convergence).
1713Derham Phys.-Theol. iv. ii. (Seager), The convergences and divergences of the rays. 1794J. Hutton Philos. Light, etc. 75 We have here two focal centers..viz. the center of eradiation or emission, and that of convergence or reception. 1848Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 364 In the metropolis of commerce the point of convergence was the Exchange. 1870R. M. Ferguson Electr. 29 The convergence in both cases is to a point.
b. ellipt. for degree or point of convergence.
1855H. Spencer Princ. Psychol. (1872) I. iii. viii. 357 An adjustment of their axes to the requisite convergence. 1885Manch. Exam. 26 Oct. 5/2 Krakatao is situated at the convergence of three great earth fractures.
c. Meteorol. The accumulation of air in a region caused by converging winds and resulting in upward air-currents. Also attrib.
1906Shaw & Lempfert Life Hist. Surface Air Currents i. 18 As the most obvious example of convergence we may take the case in which the winds from all points of a closed curve blow inwards. Ibid. 19 If trajectories [of air] are drawn from a series of points on the boundary of a definite area and steps are taken along the trajectories for equal intervals, the variation of the area defined by the series of points can be measured and a region where the area so enclosed is diminishing is a region of convergence and indicates a locality of rising air. 1953F. K. Hare Restless Atmosphere ix. 108 The trade winds meet..along a fairly definite ‘front’... The use of the word ‘front’ is..something of a misnomer, and it has been suggested that the term ‘intertropical convergence zone’ should replace the older form. 1957G. E. Hutchinson Treat. Limnol. I. iv. 225 The equatorial region, where frontal convergences and a general upward movement produce adiabatic cooling and cloud formation.
2. fig. and transf. Coming or drawing together; concurrence of operations, effects, etc.
1843Gladstone Glean. V. iii. 3 From the convergence of such various and unsuspected testimony. 1867Lewes Hist. Philos. II. 640 Convergence of effort, not conflict. 1881Westcott & Hort Grk. N.T. Introd. §90 A convergence of phenomena points to some lost reading.
3. Math. Of convergent series or fractions.
1858Todhunter Algebra xl. heading, Convergence and Divergence of Series. Ibid. xl. §558 Some writers prefer another definition of convergence; namely, they consider a series convergent only when the sum of an indefinitely large number of terms can be made to differ from one fixed value by less than any assigned quantity.
4. Convergent quality, convergency. rare.
1833N. Arnott Physics (ed. 5) II. i. 208 A lens weaker still might only destroy the divergence of the rays, without being able to give them any convergence.
5. Biol. The tendency in diverse or allied animals or plants to assume similar characteristics under like conditions of environment.
1866Darwin Orig. Spec. (ed. 4) iv. 150 A distinguished botanist, Mr. H. C. Watson, believes that I have overrated the importance of the principle of divergence of character.., and that convergence of character, as it may be called, has likewise played a part. 1902Encycl. Brit. XXVIII. 343/2 Multiradial apocentricities lie at the root of many of the phenomena that have been grouped under the designation Convergence. 1927Haldane & Huxley Anim. Biol. xi. 223 Convergence, where a similar mode of life produces similar effects on quite unrelated animals. 1953G. A. L. Sarton Hist. Sci. I. i. 17 The theory of convergent evolution, or convergence (as the anthropologists call it), does not deny the frequent occurrence of borrowings and imitation between one people and another. 1963E. Mayr Animal Species & Evolution xix. 609 Where no common heritage exists evolutionary parallelism is more correctly called convergence.
Add:[1.] d. Oceanogr. Any region where currents converge; spec. each of several named regions (esp. Antarctic convergence, Arctic convergence) at the boundary between two converging currents, at which the denser body of water is subducted.
1933G. E. R. Deacon in Discovery Rep. VII. 179 Along the Antarctic convergence..Antarctic surface water sinks below sub-Antarctic water. 1942H. U. Sverdrup et al. Oceans iv. 139 The most conspicuous convergence is the Antarctic convergence, which can be traced all round the Antarctic Continent. 1963G. L. Pickard Descriptive Physical Oceanogr. vii. 114 The Subtropical Convergence is at about 40°S round most of the Antarctic. 1984A. C. & A. Duxbury Introd. World's Oceans vii. 231 There are three major zones of convergence: the tropical convergence at the equator, the subtropical convergences..and the Arctic and Antarctic convergences.
▸ Polit. Econ. A theory (not now widely held) which states that, irrespective of political ideologies, all social and economic systems follow similar patterns of development.
Used esp. with reference to the anticipated gradual elimination of (significant) social, economic, and political differences between Communist and capitalist nations.
[1935B. Wootton Plan or No Plan x. 270 Is it even possible that the future may see some sort of convergence of both capitalist and Communist societies towards a new order midway between the two?] 1958N. Jacobs Origin of Mod. Capitalism & Eastern Asia 13 Following the principle of convergence, we see that the structures of Japan and western Europe show important underlying principles in common, despite variations in traits. 1971Times Lit. Suppl. 31 Dec. 1621/5 The theory of convergence informs us that societies on both sides of the Iron Curtain are conditioned by similar forces in all respects, whatever the differences in kind or degree of individual liberty enjoyed by their members. 1993Oxf. Compan. Polit. World 194/2 The fading of the convergence thesis can be in part attributed to the acknowledgement of complexity and particularity and to a subsequent emphasis on sharply delineated comparative studies.
▸ The process by which originally distinct technologies may become more compatible or integrated as they develop, so that an increasing number of devices (esp. in electronics, computing, and telecommunications) are multifunctional and interoperable. Cf. multimedia n. 2.
1978Times 15 Sept. 21/5 Convergence (of computing, telecommunications and office products technologies) and vertical integration are going to create utter chaos in the market for information systems. 1987T. Forester High-tech Society ii. 28 There are few areas of industry or commerce left untouched by microelectronics. That is why the word ‘pervasive’ (along with ‘convergence’) crops up so often in discussions of the impact of the computer revolution. 1993N.Y. Times 21 Nov. iii. 13/2 Bewitched by convergence mania, companies are concocting a catalogue's worth of new combo-products. 1996Internet World June 10/2 Corporate information systems have been undergoing their own convergence. Image processing, intelligent text-retrieval, groupware, object-oriented databases, fax, e-mail, and workflow systems, and other advanced technologies have been merging in corporate environments. 2001Wall St. Jrnl. 4 Apr. b2/4 Both Oxygen and AOL have ‘convergence’ strategies aimed at bringing together TV and Internet operations. |