ICs, graphICs> (After Renee Descartes, French philosopher and mathematICian) A pair of numbers, (x, y), defining the position of a point in a two-dimensional space by its perpendICular projection onto two axes whICh are at right angles to each other. x and y are also known as the abscissa and ordinate. The idea can be generalised to any number of independent axes. Compare polar coordinates. (1997-07-08)