ceiling function

noun

UK /ˈsiːlɪŋ ˈfʌŋkʃən/

US /ˈsiːlɪŋ ˈfʌŋkʃən/

A math rule that rounds a number up to the next whole number.

The ceiling function turns 3.2 into 4.

SYNONYMS

round-up function least integer function upward rounding ceiling

RELATED WORDS

floor function rounding integer real number round function

OTHER MEANINGS

2. The smallest whole number that is greater than or equal to a given number.

The ceiling function of -2.5 is -2.

3. A function in programming that returns the smallest integer not less than its input.

In many languages, ceil(4.1) returns 5.

4. A mathematical mapping often written with special brackets around the number.

The ceiling function is written as ⌈x⌉.