Wiktionary

definition

See also: Definition and définition

English

edit
 
English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

Etymology

edit

From Middle English diffinicioun, from Middle French definition, from Latin dēfīnītiō, from dēfīniō. Equivalent to define +‎ -ition.

Pronunciation

edit
  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˌdɛf.ɪˈnɪʃ.ən/, [ˌdɛf.ɪˈnɪʃ.n̩]
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˌdɛf.ɪˈnɪʃ.ən/, [ˌdɛf.ɪˈnɪʃ.n̩], /ˌdɛf.əˈnɪʃ.ən/, [ˌdɛf.əˈnɪʃ.n̩]
    • Audio (US):(file)
  • Hyphenation: def‧in‧ition

Noun

edit

definition (countable and uncountable, plural definitions)

  2. (semantics, lexicography) A statement of the meaning of a word, word group, sign, or symbol; especially, a dictionary definition.
    Your definition of "elephant" needs to be more precise than "a big animal with large ears".
    • 1925, Thomas R. Marshall, Recollections of Thomas R. Marshall‎[1], Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC, →OL, page 65:
      DEFINITIONS mean nothing unless the concept in the mind of the men who makes the definition is the same as that in the mind of the man who hears it.
    • 2020 November 9, Christina Zdanowicz, “Oxford dictionaries change ‘sexist’ and outdated definitions of the word ‘woman’”, in CNN‎[2]:
      Phrases such as “woman of the moment” were added to equal the old saying of the “man of the moment.” And one of the definitions of “woman” now refers to a “person’s wife, girlfriend, or female lover,” as opposed to being tied to only a man.
  3. (usually with the definite article the) A clear instance conforming to the dictionary or textbook definition.
  4. A statement expressing the essential nature of something; formulation
  5. The action or process of defining.
  6. The act of defining; determination of the limits.
  7. A product of defining.
  8. The action or power of describing, explaining, or making definite and clear.
    Her comic genius is beyond definition.
  9. Clarity of visual presentation, distinctness of outline or detail.
    The definition of a telescope.
    Improve the definition of an image.
    high-definition videos
  10. Clarity, especially of musical sound in reproduction.
  11. Sharp demarcation of outlines or limits.
    A jacket with distinct waist definition.
  12. (bodybuilding) The degree to which individual muscles are distinct on the body.
  13. (programming) A statement which provides a previous declaration with a value or body of a subroutine (in the case of function).
  14. (mathematics) A statement that establishes the referent of a term or notation.
  16. (crosswording) The part of a cryptic clue which defines but does not indicate the solution.
    Coordinate term: wordplay
    • 2014, Henry Howarth, Learn How to Solve Cryptic Crosswords: A Course for Beginners, Lulu.com, →ISBN, page 59:
      However, some clues include words that do not form part of the wordplay or the definition.

Synonyms

edit

Hyponyms

edit

Derived terms

edit
edit

Translations

edit
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked

See also

edit

References

edit

Finnish

edit

Noun

edit

definition

  1. genitive singular of definitio

Middle French

edit

Etymology

edit

Ultimately from Latin dēfīnītiō.

Noun

edit

definition f (plural definitions)

  1. definition (clarification of this definition is needed)

Descendants

edit

Swedish

edit

Pronunciation

edit

Noun

edit

definition c

  1. a definition

Declension

edit
Declension of definition
nominative genitive
singular indefinite definition definitions
definite definitionen definitionens
plural indefinite definitioner definitioners
definite definitionerna definitionernas
edit

See also

edit

References

edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=definition&oldid=84750635"