compactification

noun

com·​pact·​i·​fi·​ca·​tion

kəmˌpaktəfə̇ˈkāshən

plural -s

1

: a compact topological space that contains a given topological space as a subset or that contains a subset homeomorphic to the given topological space

2

: the application of a topological compactification to a model of the universe (such as one involving superstrings) in which the ordinary dimensions of space are held to coexist with several other dimensions too infinitesimal in size to observe

Word History

Etymology

compact entry 1 + -ification (as in saponification)

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