See Also: Lagrangian(dictionary)

gentian (oh) and Lagrangian (iou)


gentian (oh)



[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: gentiana, perhaps from Gentius king of ancient Illyria, in Southern Europe, who is said to have discovered the use of the plant as a medicine]
a small plant with blue or purple flowers that grows in mountain areas

Lagrangian (iou)



Lagrangian adjective & noun. Also Lagrangean. M19.
[from LAGRANGE + -IAN.]
Math. & Astronomy.
A. adjective. Of or pertaining to the work of J. L. Lagrange (see LAGRANGE); of the kind introduced by Lagrange or associated with his work. M19.
Lagrangian function the difference between the kinetic energy and the potential energy of a system expressed as a function of generalized coordinates, their time Derivatives, and time. Lagrangian point each of five points in the orbital plane of two bodies (e.g. a planet and a moon) at which a third body of negligible mass will remain stationary relative to the others.
b. noun. A Lagrangian function. M20.