diagram chasing

noun

Proof in stages, each of which, in general, depends on the previous stages and can be visualized by means of a diagram of morphisms.

“To prove the five lemma, just use diagram chasing.”

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Meanings

noundiagram chasing (uncountable)
  1. informaluncountablemathematicsProof in stages, each of which, in general, depends on the previous stages and can be visualized by means of a diagram of morphisms.

    To prove the five lemma, just use diagram chasing.

    1 more example

    Category theory also contributes new proof techniques, such as diagram chasing or arguments by duality; Steenrod called these methods “abstract nonsense.”³ The aim of this text is to introduce the language, philosophy, and basic theorems of category theory. A complementary objective is to put this theory into practice: studying functoriality in algebraic topology, naturality in group theory, and universal properties in algebra.

    2016, Emily Riehl, Category Theory in Context (Aurora: Dover modern math originals), New York: Dover, →ISBN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 14 Dec 2019, page x
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

Source: diagram chasing on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.