topological space

noun

An ordered pair (X, τ), where X is a set and τ, called the topology, is a collection of subsets of X which satisfies certain axioms and whose elements are called the open sets (or alternatively, for a different set of axioms, the closed sets);

Meanings

nountopological space (plural topological spaces)

plural topological spaces

  1. formalmathematicsAn ordered pair (X, τ), where X is a set and τ, called the topology, is a collection of subsets of X which satisfies certain axioms and whose elements are called the open sets (or alternatively, for a different set of axioms, the closed sets);

    If (X,#92;tau) is a topological space, then a cover #92;mathcalB is open if each B#92;in#92;mathcalB is an open set. A topological space (X,#92;tau) is compact if every open cover of X has a finite subcover.

    2013, D. J. H. Garling, A Course in Mathematical Analysis: Volume 2, Cambridge University Press, page 431
    2 more examples

    In order to obtain "intuitive insight" into special classes of topological spaces we can proceed in several ways, only a few of which will be pursued in this chapter. For instance, we can seek to describe important topological spaces by means of enough of their properties to completely characterize them, up to homeomorphism.

    1964, H. J. Kowalsky, translated by Jay E. Strum, Topological Spaces, Academic Press, page 165

    2011, Jonathan A. Barmak, Algebraic Topology of Finite Topological Spaces and Applications, Springer, Lecture Notes in Mathematics 2032, page xi, Most of the spaces studied in Algebraic Topology, such as CW-complexes or manifolds, are Hausdorff. In contrast, finite topological spaces are rarely Hausdorff. A topological space with finitely many points, each of which is closed, must be discrete.

  2. An ordered pair (X, τ), where X is a set and τ, called the topology, is a collection of subsets of X which satisfies certain axioms and whose elements are called the open sets (or alternatively, for a different set of axioms, the closed sets); (loosely) the set X.
    1. broadlyformalmathematicsthe set X.

Synonyms & antonyms

noun(mathematics) any set of points that satisfy a set of postulates of some kind

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Afrikaans topologiese ruimte
  • topologiese ruimteordered pair of a set and its topology
Chinese Mandarin 拓扑空间, 拓扑空间
  • 拓扑空间 (tuòpū kōngjiān)set that has a topology
  • 拓扑空间 (tuòpū kōngjiān)ordered pair of a set and its topology
Danish topologisk rum, topologisk rum
  • topologisk rumset that has a topology
  • topologisk rumordered pair of a set and its topology
Finnish topologinen avaruus, topologinen avaruus
  • topologinen avaruusset that has a topology
  • topologinen avaruusordered pair of a set and its topology
French espace topologique
  • espace topologiqueordered pair of a set and its topology
German topologischer Raum
  • topologischer Raumordered pair of a set and its topology
Greek τοπολογικός χώρος, τοπολογικός χώρος
  • τοπολογικός χώρος (topologikós chóros)set that has a topology
  • τοπολογικός χώρος (topologikós chóros)ordered pair of a set and its topology
Hebrew מרחב טופולוגי
  • מרחב טופולוגי (mercháv topológi)ordered pair of a set and its topology
Icelandic grannrúm
  • grannrúmordered pair of a set and its topology
Italian spazio topologico, spazio topologico
  • spazio topologicoset that has a topology
  • spazio topologicoordered pair of a set and its topology
Japanese 位相空間
  • 位相空間 (isō kūkan)ordered pair of a set and its topology
Polish przestrzeń topologiczna, przestrzeń topologiczna
  • przestrzeń topologicznaset that has a topology
  • przestrzeń topologicznaordered pair of a set and its topology
Portuguese espaço topológico
  • espaço topológicoordered pair of a set and its topology
Romanian spațiu topologic
  • spațiu topologicordered pair of a set and its topology
Russian топологи́ческое простра́нство
  • топологи́ческое простра́нство (topologíčeskoje prostránstvo)ordered pair of a set and its topology
Spanish espacio topológico
  • espacio topológicoordered pair of a set and its topology
Swedish topologiskt rum, topologiskt rum
  • topologiskt rumset that has a topology
  • topologiskt rumordered pair of a set and its topology
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

Source: topological space on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.