Definitions for ontoˈɒn tu, ˈɔn-; unstressed ˈɒn tə, ˈɔn-
Random House Webster's College Dictionary
on•toˈɒn tu, ˈɔn-; unstressed ˈɒn tə, ˈɔn-(prep.)
to a place or position on; upon; on.
Informal. aware of the true nature, motive, or meaning of:
I'm onto your tricks.
Category: Informal
(adj.)Math. pertaining to a function or map from one set to another set, the range of which is the entire second set.
Category: Math
Origin of onto:
1575–85
onto-
a combining form meaning “being”:
ontogeny.
Category: Affix
Origin of onto-:
< NL < Gk
Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary
onto(preposition)ˈɒn tu, ˈɔn-; unstressed ˈɒn tə, ˈɔn-
on or into a particular place
He climbed onto the stage.; The players walked out onto the tennis court.; They're still loading all the bags onto the plane.
ontoˈɒn tu, ˈɔn-; unstressed ˈɒn tə, ˈɔn-
indicates sth is added or attached
She sewed it onto her hat.; Just add his name onto the list.
ontoˈɒn tu, ˈɔn-; unstressed ˈɒn tə, ˈɔn-
having discovered sth useful
The researchers felt they might be onto something.
ontoˈɒn tu, ˈɔn-; unstressed ˈɒn tə, ˈɔn-
knowing that sb is doing sth wrong
I was onto him right away.
Wiktionary
onto(Adjective)
Assuming each of the values in its codomain; having its range equal to its codomain.
Considered as a function on the real numbers, the exponential function is not onto.
onto(Preposition)
Upon; on top of.
My cat just jumped onto the keyboard.
onto(Preposition)
Aware of.
The thought-police were onto my plans of World domination.
onto(Preposition)
Being an onto function with a codomain of (see below).
The exponential function maps the set of real numbers onto the set of positive real numbers.
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