Steiner system

noun

In combinatorial mathematics, a type of block design, specifically a t-design with λ = 1 and t = 2 or (recently) t ≥ 2.

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nounSteiner system (plural Steiner systems)

plural Steiner systems

  1. mathematicsIn combinatorial mathematics, a type of block design, specifically a t-design with λ = 1 and t = 2 or (recently) t ≥ 2.

Origin

Reintroduced by Jakob Steiner (1853), who was unaware of earlier work on the topic.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Steiner system. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Steiner%20system

MLA

“Steiner system.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Steiner%20system. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Steiner system,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Steiner%20system.

Source: Steiner system on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.