separatrix

Meaning

1. The ⟨L⟩ or pipe ⟨|⟩ mark formerly used to divide integers from decimals.
2. (obsolete) Synonym of decimal point, which replaced such marks.
3. The proofreader's mark resembling a slash ⟨ / ⟩ or vertical bar ⟨ | ⟩ placed after a note in the margin to indicate that it should replace the item(s) struckthrough in the running text or to separate it from other margin notes.
4. A terminator: a line on a partially-illuminated surface separating the lit and shaded regions.
5. The line between regions having different magnetic fields.
6. The boundary separating two modes of behavior in a differential equation.

Synonyms

slash

stroke

diagonal

solidus

virgule

fraction

fraction bar

interface

oblique stroke

shilling mark

shilling stroke

slant

great divide

boundary surface

limit plane

borderline

bounding surface

boundary

demarcation line

dividing line

forward slash

Translations

ophaal

accident vasculaire cérébral

coup

diagonale

barre oblique

barra

breukstreep

schuine streep

barra

barra

barra

Pronounced as (IPA)

/sɛpəˈɹeɪtɹɪks/

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin separatrix, the feminine form of separator (originally owing to an implied līnea (“line”)), from sēparāre (“to divide; to separate”) + -trix (forming female agents); equivalent to separate + -trix. First developed as a decimal mark among the medieval Arab mathematicians, whence a shorter variant gave rise to the decimal comma employed by many European countries and their former colonies.