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sigma

  (sĭg') pronunciation
n.
  1. The 18th letter of the Greek alphabet.
  2. A sigma factor.
  3. A sigma baryon.

[Greek sīgma, of Phoenician origin.]

sigmate sig'mate' (-māt') adj.
 
 

A semicircular portico.


 

The Greek letter σ or σ; the former frequently denotes a standard deviation, the latter is used in mathematics for the sum of the values of the term nominated.

 
Wikipedia: Sigma


Sigma_uc_lc.svg
Greek alphabet
Αα Alpha Νν Nu
Ββ Beta Ξξ Xi
Γγ Gamma Οο Omicron
Δδ Delta Ππ Pi
Εε Epsilon Ρρ Rho
Ζζ Zeta Σσ Sigma
Ηη Eta Ττ Tau
Θθ Theta Υυ Upsilon
Ιι Iota Φφ Phi
Κκ Kappa Χχ Chi
Λλ Lambda Ψψ Psi
Μμ Mu Ωω Omega
Obsolete letters
Ϝϝ Digamma Ϙϙ Qoppa
Ϛϛ Stigma Ϡϡ Sampi
Ϻϻ San Ϸϸ Sho

Greek diacritics
The Madaba Map, a sixth-century mosaic map of Jerusalem ("ΗΑΓΙΑ ПОΛΙΣ") uses the lunate sigma.
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The Madaba Map, a sixth-century mosaic map of Jerusalem ("ΗΑΓΙΑ ПОΛΙΣ") uses the lunate sigma.

Sigma (upper case Σ, lower case σ, lower case in word-final position ς) is the eighteenth letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 200. When used at the end of a word, and the word is not upper case, the final form (ς) is used.

The letter is ultimately derived from Phoenician Sin Phoenician_sin.png. However, its name derives from Samekh.

In Eastern forms of Greek writing (as opposed to the Western Greek alphabet used in the European Greek colonies) and in the Middle Ages, the lunate sigma (upper case Ϲ, lower case ϲ) — which resembles, but which is not at all related to, the Latin letter C — was often used. Lunate sigma was frequently used for writing Medieval Greek, and it can still sometimes be seen in inscriptions in Greek Orthodox churches, but also in certain printed editions of classical authors. The form of the Cyrillic letter С [s] and Coptic letter sima are derived from lunate sigma.

On coins from the Hellenistic period in India, the script of later coins sometimes use lunate signa. This was possibly due to Latin influence.

A dotted lunate sigma (sigma periestigmenon, encoded at U+03FE Ͼ) is used by Aristarchus of Samothrace as an editorial sign indicating that the line so marked is at an incorrect position. Similarly, an antisigma (encoded at U+03FD Ͻ) may mark a line that is out of place. A dotted antisigma (antisigma periestigmenon, encoded at U+03FF Ͽ) may indicate a line after which rearrangements should be made, or to variant readings of uncertain priority.

The uppercase form of sigma was borrowed into the Latin alphabet to serve as the uppercase of esh (lowercase: ʃ).

Science and Mathematics

Upper case Σ is used as a symbol for:

Lower case σ is used for:

Politics

During the 1930s, an upper case Σ was in use as the symbol of the Ação Integralista Brasileira, a fascist party in Brazil.

Popular culture and use in fiction

  • Sigma is the name of the main villain in Capcom's Mega Man X. His symbol is an upper-case sigma formed into a wolf's face.
  • Sigma is the name of third server in the series of .hack//IMOQ (PS2 video games)
  • Sigma is the title of a 2007 album by eufonius.
  • Vector Sigma is the Computer matrix that created the cybertronian lifeforms the Transformers in the popular cartoon series from the 1980s
  • Sigma is used in the latter (Chris Redfield) half of survival-horror game Resident Evil Code: Veronica in which you much retrieve 'Clement a ' and 'Clement Σ'
  • Sigma 2,3,5,6,7,8,9 Computers produced by Xerox Data Systems in the 1970s following purchase of SDS, Scientific Data Systems by them. Successful range of Scientific Computers similar to IBM 370's.
  • Sigma is the name of a system for ontology development and reasoning
  • In a season 3 episode of the Disney Channel show That's So Raven, entitled "Members Only", Eddie wishes to join a group in the school named the Sigmas. The Sigmas are the most popular group in their school, and all of the members wore yellow jackets with an uppercase Sigma on the left breast.

Hi-Fi Headphones

Stax Sigma were the top of the range, Stax Electrostatic, "Semi Panoramic Ear Speakers" made in Japan from 1977 onwards.

Sigma refers to a peak state of consciousness when a user of dextromethorphan hydrobromide consumes a near deadly dosage.

Lenses

Sigma Corporation manufactures digital cameras and a vast catalog of photography lenses.

Dept Managing

Sigma Company Limited is a Hungarian debt management firm founded in 1923, connected the TCM Group International.

See also


 
 

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Copyrights:

Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Architecture. McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Architecture and Construction. Copyright © 2003 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Sigma" Read more

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