| 释义 |
covariant, n. and a.|kəʊˈvɛərɪənt|
[f. co- prefix 4 + variant.]
A. n. Math. (See quot. 1853.)
1853Sylvester in Phil. Trans. CXLIII. i. 544 Covariant, a function which stands in the same relation to the primitive function from which it is derived as any of its linear transforms do to a similarly derived transform of its primitive. 1880Carr Synop. Math. §1629. 1959 Chambers's Encycl. I. 260/2 The extensive theory of invariants and covariants has many applications in geometry. 1967Condon & Odishaw Handbk. Physics (ed. 2) i. x. 144/1 In theory of relativity the distinction between quantities which change with the reference system (covariants) and quantities which do not change with the reference system (invariants) is of paramount importance.
B. adj. Changing in such a way that interrelations with another simultaneously changing quantity or set of quantities remain unchanged; correlated; spec. in Math., having the properties of a covariant; of or pertaining to a covariant.
1905C. J. Joly Man. Quaternions xvii. 290 The functions..undergo the same transformation [as the original functions] and may be said to be covariant with the original functions for this type of transformation. 1920R. W. Lawson tr. Einstein's Relativity xiv. 43 General laws of nature are co-variant with respect to Lorentz transformations. 1956Nature 11 Feb. 268/2 The possibility of having an acceptable theory which, although not covariant..leads only to covariant observable predictions. 1957in Saporta & Bastian Psycholinguistics (1961) 290/2 The data obtained should be demonstrably covariant with those obtained with some other, independent index of meaning. 1959J. Aharoni Special Theory of Relativity ii. 85 Tensors are said to be covariant entities and absolute relations between them, which do not change their form as the coordinates are transformed, are said to be covariant relations. 1968Amer. Jrnl. Physics XXXVI. 1103/2 The two Einstein postulates state that the laws of physics and speed of light do not change for relatively moving reference systems (being covariant and invariant, respectively). |