COHERENT

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does coherent mean? 

• COHERENT (adjective)
  The adjective COHERENT has 4 senses:

1. marked by an orderly, logical, and aesthetically consistent relation of parts

2. capable of thinking and expressing yourself in a clear and consistent manner

3. (physics) of waves having a constant phase relation

4. sticking together

  Familiarity information: COHERENT used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• COHERENT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Marked by an orderly, logical, and aesthetically consistent relation of parts

Synonyms:

coherent; consistent; logical; ordered

Context example:

a coherent argument

Similar:

seamless (perfectly consistent and coherent)

Also:

logical (capable of or reflecting the capability for correct and valid reasoning)

rational (consistent with or based on or using reason)

Antonym:

incoherent (without logical or meaningful connection)

Derivation:

cohere (have internal elements or parts logically connected so that aesthetic consistency results)

cohere (cause to form a united, orderly, and aesthetically consistent whole)

coherence; coherency (logical and orderly and consistent relation of parts)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Capable of thinking and expressing yourself in a clear and consistent manner

Synonyms:

coherent; logical; lucid

Context example:

she was more coherent than she had been just after the accident

Similar:

rational (consistent with or based on or using reason)

Derivation:

coherency (logical and orderly and consistent relation of parts)

Sense 3

Meaning:

(physics) of waves having a constant phase relation

Antonym:

incoherent ((physics) of waves having no stable definite or stable phase relation)

Domain category:

physics (the science of matter and energy and their interactions)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Sticking together

Synonyms:

coherent; tenacious

Context example:

tenacious burrs

Similar:

adhesive (tending to adhere)

Derivation:

cohere (come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation)

coherence; coherency (the state of cohering or sticking together)

 Context examples 

Katal is coherent with the SI.

(Katal, NCI Thesaurus)

A device designed to emit a monochromatic beam of coherent light.

(Laser Device Component, NCI Thesaurus)

Faith based on a series of beliefs but not formalized into a religion; also, a fixed coherent set of beliefs prevalent in a community or society.

(Belief System, NCI Thesaurus)

Instead of analyzing microarray results with a gene-by-gene approach, GoMiner classifies the genes into biologically coherent categories and assesses these categories.

(GoMiner, NCI Thesaurus)

At present she is unable to give any coherent account of the past, and the doctors hold out no hopes of the reestablishment of her reason.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Just now he spoke coherent words for the first time:—I shall be patient, Master.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

An acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation; an optical device that produces an intense monochromatic beam of coherent light.

(Laser, NCI Thesaurus)

A technique that uses focused waves of broadband, low-spatially-coherent light to illuminate a sample, and forms an image by acquiring far field back-scattered photons.

(Partial Wave Spectroscopic Microscopy, NCI Thesaurus)

A SI-coherent unit for measuring a pulmonary diffusing capacity adjusted for lung volume and expressed in units of a substance flow rate (in millimoles per minute) per unit of pressure (in kilopascals) per unit of alveolar volume equal to one liter.

(Millimole per Minute per Thousand Pascal per Liter, NCI Thesaurus)

While Jo trudged beside him, feeling as if her place had always been there, and wondering how she ever could have chosen any other lot. Of course, she was the first to speak—intelligibly, I mean, for the emotional remarks which followed her impetuous Oh, yes! were not of a coherent or reportable character.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)