absolute value: Meaning and Definition of

ab'solute val'ue

1. the magnitude of a quantity, irrespective of sign; the distance of a quantity from zero. The absolute value of a number is symbolized by two vertical lines, as ∥3∥ or ∥−3∥ is 3.
2. the square root of the sum of the squares of the real and imaginary parts of a given complex number, as ∥a + bi∥ is equal to a+b&fullradicover;. Also called