Dex

Origin 1

Contraction of "decimal exponent".

Full definition of dex

Noun

dex

(plural dexes)

(physics and astrophysics) An order or factor of ten. Used both to refer to the function $dex(x) = 10^x$ and the number of (possibly fractional) orders of magnitude separating two numbers. When dealing with log to the base 10 transform of a number set the transform of 10, 100, and 1 000 000 is

\log_{10}(10) = 1,

\log_{10}(100) = 2

, and

\log_{10}(1 000 000) = 6

, so the difference between 10 and 100 in base 10 is 1 dex and the difference between 1 and 1 000 000 is 6 dex.

2004, Cartledge et al 2004, The Homogeneity of Interstellar Oxygen in the Galactic Disk, Abstract, The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 613, Issue 2, pp. 1037-1048,The data points for low- paths are scattered more widely than those for denser sight lines, because O/H ratios for such paths shorter than 800 pc are generally about 0.10 dex lower than the values for longer ones.

Origin 2

By shortening.

Noun

dex

(uncountable)

(informal) dextromethorphan

Origin 3

By shortening.

Noun

dex

(uncountable)

(gaming) dexterity

2000, "Billy Shields", The truth about offhand procs (on newsgroup alt.games.everquest)Establish a proccing percentage of a weapon by putting it in the primary hand and then put it in your offhand and check the proccing percentage with varying levels of dual wield skill (while keeping level and dex constant).

Anagrams

Exd.