As"ymp*tote (?; 215), n. [Gr. not falling together; priv. + to fall together; with + to fall. Cf. Symptom.] Math.
A line which approaches nearer to some curve than assignable distance, but, though infinitely extended, would never meet it. Asymptotes may be straight lines or curves. A rectilinear asymptote may be conceived as a tangent to the curve at an infinite distance.
© Webster 1913.