coherent
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/koʊˈhɪrənt/
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Clear, connected, and able to form a whole that makes sense or works together.
Examples
Years of practice turned them into a coherent team.
The detector compares radiation from coherent sources.
The designer combined several styles into one coherent look.
The separate chapters form a coherent whole.
Are the signals still coherent after passing through the material?
Similar words
reasoned
organized
phase-related
unified
connected
logical
coordinated
integrated
lucid
clear
Meanings
Examples
She gave a coherent explanation of what went wrong.
Is there a coherent argument behind the proposal?
After some sleep, he was calm and coherent again.
The report contains useful facts but no coherent story.
We need a coherent plan before work begins.
Similar words
logical
clear
consistentorganized
lucid
intelligible
reasoned
Examples
The separate chapters form a coherent whole.
Years of practice turned them into a coherent team.
The designer combined several styles into one coherent look.
Without enough binder, the mixture will not remain coherent.
The reforms should become a coherent system rather than isolated rules.
Similar words
unified
integrated
cohesive
connected
coordinated
harmonious
Examples
A laser produces highly coherent light.
The experiment requires two coherent beams.
Are the signals still coherent after passing through the material?
Noise can make the waves less coherent over distance.
The detector compares radiation from coherent sources.
Similar words
phase-locked
phase-related
synchronized
Etymology
Borrowed through French from Latin cohaerens, the present participle of cohaerere, meaning to hold together or be connected.
FAQ
It usually means clear and logically connected, or made of parts that work together as a whole.
Can a person be coherent?
Yes. A coherent person can express thoughts clearly enough to be understood.
What is the opposite of coherent?
Incoherent is the closest general opposite. Depending on the sense, confused, inconsistent, or fragmented may also fit.
What is a coherent argument?
A coherent argument has ideas that connect logically and support its conclusion.
What does coherent mean in physics?
It describes waves with a constant phase difference, or a source that produces them.
Where does coherent come from?
It came through French from Latin cohaerens, meaning holding together or being connected.
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