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Meaning & use

graph

noun, verb·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ɡrɑːf/
US/ɡræf/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    A diagram that shows how two or more quantities relate, using points, lines or bars drawn against axes.

    Grammar: Often on a graph: the numbers on the graph.

    Patterns

    • a graph of something
    • a graph showing something
    • on a graph

    The graph shows rainfall by month.

    She drew a graph of her test scores.

    Sales rose sharply on the graph.

  2. nouncountablemathematicscomputing

    In mathematics and computing, a set of points joined by lines, used to model connections.

    Grammar: Technical meaning in graph theory.

    Patterns

    • a graph of nodes

    The road map can be treated as a graph.

    A social network is a graph of people and links.

    The algorithm searches the graph for the shortest route.

  3. verbtransitive

    To draw or plot data or an equation as a graph.

    Grammar: Takes an object: graph the function.

    Patterns

    • graph something

    Students graphed the temperature every hour.

    Graph the equation on the grid.

    We graphed our results to spot a pattern.

Word forms

pluralgraphs
third person singulargraphs
past tensegraphed
-ing formgraphing

Common combinations

line graph
A line graph shows change over time.
bar graph
The bar graph compares sales by region.
plot a graph
Plot a graph of distance against time.
read a graph
Children learn to read a graph in school.
graph paper
Draw the curve on graph paper.

Synonyms and how they differ

chart
Chart is a wider word for any visual display of data, including tables and pie charts, while a graph uses axes.
plot
Plot is the act or picture of points on axes, and is more technical than graph.
diagram
A diagram explains structure or process and need not show data.

Word family

graphic adjective
relating to visual images, or very vivid
graphics noun
visual images, especially on computers
graphite noun
soft carbon used in pencils
graphing noun
the act of drawing graphs

Commonly confused: graph or graft?

graph vs graft

A graft is a transplanted piece of tissue or a plant shoot, or hard work in British informal use, and has nothing to do with data.

Practice

The teacher asked us to ___ the data so the trend would be easy to see.

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