pur·pose (pûr p s)n. 1. The object toward which one strives or for which something exists; an aim or a goal: "And ever those, who would enjoyment gain/Must find it in the purpose they pursue" (Sarah Josepha Hale). 2. A result or effect that is intended or desired; an intention. See Synonyms at intention. 3. Determination; resolution: He was a man of purpose. 4. The matter at hand; the point at issue. tr.v. pur·posed, pur·pos·ing, pur·pos·es Idioms: To intend or resolve to perform or accomplish. on purpose Intentionally; deliberately. to good purpose With good results. to little/no purpose With few or no results. [Middle English purpos, from Anglo-Norman, from purposer, to intend : pur-, forth (from Latin pr  -; see pro-1) + poser, to put; see pose1.] |
purpose [ˈpɜːpəs]
n
1. the reason for which anything is done, created, or exists
2. a fixed design, outcome, or idea that is the object of an action or other effort
3. fixed intention in doing something; determination a man of purpose
4. practical advantage or use to work to good purpose
5. that which is relevant or under consideration (esp in the phrase to or from the purpose)
6. Archaic purport
on purpose intentionally
vb (tr)
to intend or determine to do (something)
[from Old French porpos, from porposer to plan, from Latin prōpōnere to propose]
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  purpose - an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions; "his intent was to provide a new translation"; "good intentions are not enough"; "it was created with the conscious aim of answering immediate needs"; "he made no secret of his designs"goal, end - the state of affairs that a plan is intended to achieve and that (when achieved) terminates behavior intended to achieve it; "the ends justify the means" idea, mind - your intention; what you intend to do; "he had in mind to see his old teacher"; "the idea of the game is to capture all the pieces" cross-purpose - a contrary aim; "at cross-purposes" final cause - (philosophy) the end or purpose of a thing or process sake - the purpose of achieving or obtaining; "for the sake of argument" view - purpose; the phrase `with a view to' means `with the intention of' or `for the purpose of'; "he took the computer with a view to pawning it" will - a fixed and persistent intent or purpose; "where there's a will there's a way" |
| 2. |  purpose - what something is used for; "the function of an auger is to bore holes"; "ballet is beautiful but what use is it?"usefulness, utility - the quality of being of practical use raison d'etre - the purpose that justifies a thing's existence | |
| 3. | purpose - the quality of being determined to do or achieve something; firmness of purpose; "his determination showed in his every movement"; "he is a man of purpose" firmness of purpose, resoluteness, resolve, firmness, resolution - the trait of being resolute; "his resoluteness carried him through the battle"; "it was his unshakeable resolution to finish the work" persistency, pertinacity, tenaciousness, tenacity, doggedness, perseverance, persistence - persistent determination industriousness, diligence, industry - persevering determination to perform a task; "his diligence won him quick promotions"; "frugality and industry are still regarded as virtues" | |
| Verb | 1. | purpose - propose or intend; "I aim to arrive at noon" |
| 2. | purpose - reach a decision; "he resolved never to drink again" decide, make up one's mind, determine - reach, make, or come to a decision about something; "We finally decided after lengthy deliberations" |
purpose
noun
1. reason, point, idea, goal, grounds, design, aim, basis, principle, function, object, intention, objective, motive, motivation, justification, impetus, the why and wherefore The purpose of the occasion was to raise money for charity.
2. aim, end, plan, hope, view, goal, design, project, target, wish, scheme, desire, object, intention, objective, ambition, aspiration, Holy Grail (informal) They are prepared to go to any lengths to achieve their purpose.
3. determination, commitment, resolve, will, resolution, initiative, enterprise, ambition, conviction, motivation, persistence, tenacity, firmness, constancy, single-mindedness, steadfastness The teachers are enthusiastic and have a sense of purpose.
4. use, good, return, result, effect, value, benefit, profit, worth, gain, advantage, outcome, utility, merit, mileage (informal), avail, behoof (archaic) Talking about it will serve no purpose.
on purpose deliberately, purposely, consciously, intentionally, knowingly, wilfully, by design, wittingly, calculatedly, designedly Was it an accident, or did she do it on purpose?
Translations
purpose [ˈpɜːpəs]
A. N
1. (= intention) → propósito m, objetivo m
we all shared a common purpose → todos teníamos el mismo propósito or objetivo
she has a purpose in life → tiene un objetivo or una meta or un norte en la vida
what was your purpose in going? → ¿con qué intención fuiste?
"purpose of visit" (on official form) → motivo m del viaje
I put that there for a purpose → he puesto eso ahí a propósito or por una razón
this is good enough for our purposes → esto sirve para nuestros fines
he exploited her talent for his own purposes → explotó su talento en beneficio propio
for all practical purposes → en la práctica
for the purposes of this meeting → para los fines de esta reunión
for the purpose of doing sth → con el fin de hacer algo
on purpose → a propósito, adrede
with the purpose of → con el fin de
see also intent B
we all shared a common purpose → todos teníamos el mismo propósito or objetivo
she has a purpose in life → tiene un objetivo or una meta or un norte en la vida
what was your purpose in going? → ¿con qué intención fuiste?
"purpose of visit" (on official form) → motivo m del viaje
I put that there for a purpose → he puesto eso ahí a propósito or por una razón
this is good enough for our purposes → esto sirve para nuestros fines
he exploited her talent for his own purposes → explotó su talento en beneficio propio
for all practical purposes → en la práctica
for the purposes of this meeting → para los fines de esta reunión
for the purpose of doing sth → con el fin de hacer algo
on purpose → a propósito, adrede
with the purpose of → con el fin de
see also intent B
2. (= use) → uso m, utilidad f
what is the purpose of this tool? → ¿qué uso or utilidad tiene esta herramienta?
it wasn't designed for this purpose → no se diseñó para este fin or uso
to good purpose → provechosamente
it was all to no purpose → todo fue inútil or en vano
you can adapt it to your own purposes → lo puede adaptar a sus necesidades
it serves no useful purpose → no tiene uso práctico, no tiene utilidad práctica
see also serve A2
what is the purpose of this tool? → ¿qué uso or utilidad tiene esta herramienta?
it wasn't designed for this purpose → no se diseñó para este fin or uso
to good purpose → provechosamente
it was all to no purpose → todo fue inútil or en vano
you can adapt it to your own purposes → lo puede adaptar a sus necesidades
it serves no useful purpose → no tiene uso práctico, no tiene utilidad práctica
see also serve A2
3. (= determination) → resolución f, determinación f
to have a sense of purpose → tener un rumbo en la vida
he has no sense of purpose → no tiene rumbo en la vida
she has great strength of purpose → tiene muchísima resolución or determinación, es muy resuelta
see also infirm
to have a sense of purpose → tener un rumbo en la vida
he has no sense of purpose → no tiene rumbo en la vida
she has great strength of purpose → tiene muchísima resolución or determinación, es muy resuelta
see also infirm
B. VT (o.f.) to purpose doing sth/to do sth → proponerse or planear hacer algo
purpose [ˈpɜːrpəs] n
(= aim) → but m
What is the purpose of these changes? → Quel est le but de ces changements?
his purpose in life → son but dans la vie
for this purpose → à cette intention
We only went there for that purpose → Nous n'y sommes allés qu'à cette intention.
It's not meant for that purpose
BUT Ce n'est pas fait pour ça.
for medicinal purposes → dans un but médicinal
for military purposes → dans un but militaire
for propaganda purposes → dans un but de propagande
for illustrative purposes → à titre d'illustration
for teaching purposes → dans un but pédagogique
for the purposes of this meeting → pour les besoins de cette réunion
to no purpose → en pure perte
to all intents and purposes, for all practical purposes (= in effect) → pour ainsi dire
What is the purpose of these changes? → Quel est le but de ces changements?
his purpose in life → son but dans la vie
for this purpose → à cette intention
We only went there for that purpose → Nous n'y sommes allés qu'à cette intention.
It's not meant for that purpose
BUT Ce n'est pas fait pour ça.
for medicinal purposes → dans un but médicinal
for military purposes → dans un but militaire
for propaganda purposes → dans un but de propagande
for illustrative purposes → à titre d'illustration
for teaching purposes → dans un but pédagogique
for the purposes of this meeting → pour les besoins de cette réunion
to no purpose → en pure perte
to all intents and purposes, for all practical purposes (= in effect) → pour ainsi dire
(= direction, determination) (in life) a sense of purpose → une motivation
purpose-built [ˌpɜːrpəsˈbɪlt] adj → spécialement construit(e), ad hoc
purpose-built [ˌpɜːrpəsˈbɪlt] adj → spécialement construit(e), ad hoc
purpose
n
(= intention) → Absicht f; (= result aimed at, set goal) → Zweck m; on purpose → mit Absicht, absichtlich; what was your purpose in doing this? → was haben Sie damit beabsichtigt?, was war Ihre Absicht dabei?; he did it for or with the purpose of improving his image → er tat es in der Absicht or mit dem Ziel, sein Image zu verbessern; he’s a man with a purpose in life → er ist ein Mensch mit einem Lebensziel; a novel with a purpose → ein Roman, der einen Zweck erfüllen soll; to answer or serve somebody’s purpose(s) → jds Zweck(en) entsprechen or dienen; his activities seem to lack purpose → seine Aktivitäten scheinen nicht zweckgerichtet zu sein; for our purposes → für unsere Zwecke; for the purposes of this meeting → zum Zweck dieser Konferenz; for all practical purposes → in der Praxis; to the purpose → relevant; to some/good/little purpose → mit einigem/gutem/wenig Erfolg; to no purpose → ohne Erfolg
no pl (= resolution, determination) → Entschlossenheit f; strength of purpose → Entschlusskraft f, → Entschlossenheit f; sense of purpose → Zielbewusstsein nt; (of nation) → Ziel nt, → Zielvorstellungen pl; to have a sense of purpose → zielbewusst sein; to have no sense of purpose → kein Zielbewusstsein or kein Ziel haben
purpose [ˈpɜːpəs] n
a. (intention) → scopo, intenzione f; (use) → uso
she has a purpose in life → ha uno scopo nella vita
for our purposes → per i nostri scopi
for teaching purposes → per l'insegnamento
for the purposes of this meeting → agli effetti di questa riunione
for all practical purposes → a tutti gli effetti pratici, in pratica
on purpose → di proposito, apposta
for illustrative purposes → a titolo illustrativo
to the purpose → a proposito, pertinente
with the purpose of → con il proposito di
to some purpose → con qualche risultato
to no purpose → senza nessun risultato, inutilmente
to good purpose → con buoni risultati
she has a purpose in life → ha uno scopo nella vita
for our purposes → per i nostri scopi
for teaching purposes → per l'insegnamento
for the purposes of this meeting → agli effetti di questa riunione
for all practical purposes → a tutti gli effetti pratici, in pratica
on purpose → di proposito, apposta
for illustrative purposes → a titolo illustrativo
to the purpose → a proposito, pertinente
with the purpose of → con il proposito di
to some purpose → con qualche risultato
to no purpose → senza nessun risultato, inutilmente
to good purpose → con buoni risultati
b. (resolution, determination) sense of purpose → risolutezza
n purpose [ˈpəːpəs]
1 the reason for doing something; the aim to which an action etc is directed What is the purpose of your visit? doel قَصْد، هَدَف причина účel, smysl formål der Zweck σκοπός propósito,fin; razón eesmärk مقصود؛ هدف tarkoitus but, objet מַטָרָה उद्देश्य, प्रयोजन cél tujuan tilgangur scopo 目的 목적 tikslas mērķis; nolūks tujuan bedoeling formål, hensikt, mening cel propósito scop, obiectiv цель účel, zmysel namen svrha syfte, avsikt วัตถุประสงค์ amaç, gaye 目的 намір, мета مقصد mục đích 目的
2 the use or function of an object The purpose of this lever is to stop the machine in an emergency. doel وَظيفَة، غَرَض употреба funkce formål der Zweck σκοπός, λειτουργία función, uso, utilidad ülesanne هدف käyttötarkoitus utilité מַטָרָה परिणाम cél, funkció fungsi hlutverk funzione 用途 기능 paskirtis pielietojums; nolūks fungsi functie formål, funksjon zadanie, funkcja finalidade utilitate назначение funkcia namen namena funktion หน้าที่ yarar, fayda 效果，作用 призначення فائدہ، کام chức năng 效果，作用
3 determination a man of purpose. doelgerigtheid عَزْم، تَصْميم воля rozhodnost beslutsomhed die Entschlußkraft αποφασιστικότητα determinación sihikindlus عزم؛ اراده määrätietoisuus détermination נְחִישוּת संकल्प szándék, eltökéltség tekad stefnufesta, ákveðni determinazione 決意 결심 ryžtas mērķtiecība azam vastberadenheid målbevissthet, besluttsomhet stanowczość determinação voinţă; hotărâre целеустремлённость rozhodnosť odločnost cilj beslutsamhet, målmedvetenhet การสรุปผล azim, karar 意志，決心 цілеспрямованість, воля عزم و حوصلہ quyết tâm 意志，决心
adj purposeful
having a definite purpose with a purposeful look on his face. vasberade هادِف إلى، ذو مَغْزى целенасочен odhodlaný målbevidst zielbewußt αποφασιστικός determinado sihikindel مصمم määrätietoinen déterminé תַכלִיתִי दृढ़ संकल्प eltökélt bertujuan stefnufastur deciso, risoluto きっぱりとした 목적 있는, 의도를 가진, 과단성 있는 ryžtingas mērķtiecīgs penuh azam vastberaden målbevisst, bestemt celowy determinado hotărât целеустремлённый odhodlaný odločen odlučan målmedveten ซึงมีจุดประสงค์ kararlı, azimli 有目的的 цілеспрямований بامقصد có chủ định 有目的的
adv purposefully
vasberade بصورةٍ هادِفَه، بِمَغْزى целенасочено odhodlaně målbevidst zielbewußt αποφασιστικά con determinación sihikindlalt قاطعانه päättäväisesti délibérément בְהֶּחלֵטִיוּת सोद्देश्यता से, संकल्प के साथ eltökélten dengan tujuan af stefnufestu con determinazione きっぱりと 단호히 ryžtingai mērķtiecīgi dgn azam yg kuat vastberaden målbevisst, bestemt celowo com determinação (în mod) deliberat; dinadins целеустремлённо odhodlane odločno odlučno målmedvetet อย่างมีวัตถุประสงค์ kararla, azimle 有目的 цілеспрямовано بامقصد طور پر có chủ định 有目的
adj purposeless
having no purpose purposeless destruction. doelloos دون هَدَف، دون غايَة أو مَغْزى безцелен zbytečný meningsløs ziellos άσκοπος, χωρίς νόημα sin sentido; sin propósito sihitu بی هدف tarkoitukseton inutile חֲסַר מַטָרָה निरूद्देश्यता से céltalan tanpa tujuan tilgangslaus inutile 目的のない 무의미한 betikslis bezjēdzīgs; bezmērķīgs tdk bererti zinloos formålsløs, unyttig bezcelowy sem finalidade inutil, fără rost бесцельный; бессмысленный zbytočný nesmiseln uzaludan meningslös อย่างไร้จุดประสงค์ amaçsız, maksatsız 無目的的 безцільний بے مقصد không chủ định 无目的的
adv purposely
intentionally He did it purposely to attract my attention. doelbewus قَصْدا، عَمْدا нарочно záměrně med vilje vorsätzlich επίτηδες a propósito, expresamente nimme عمداً tarkoituksellisesti exprès בְּכַווָנָה जानबूझकर szándékosan dengan sengaja af ásettu ráði di proposito, apposta わざと 의도적으로 tyčia ar nodomu/nolūku dgn sengaja opzettelijk med vilje/hensikt celowo de propósito (în mod) expres; dinadins нарочно zámerne namenoma namerno avsiktligt อย่างจงใจ bilerek, kasten 特意地，故意地 спеціально; навмисно جان بوجھ کر có chủ định 特意地，故意地
adj purpose-ˈbuilt
made or built for a particular need or purpose People who use wheelchairs sometimes live in purpose-built houses. doelgebou مبْني لِهَدَفٍ مُعَيَّن специално направен účelový specialbygget spezialgefertigt ειδικής κατασκευής construido especialmente (para) kindlal eesmärgil ehitatud برای منظور خاصی ساخته شده varta vasten tehty fonctionnalisé נִבנָה לְמַטָרָה speciális dibangun khusus sérbyggður (costruito appositamente) 特注の (어떤 목적을 위해) 특별히 건립된 specialiai pastatytas īpaša pasūtījuma- dibina khas speciaal gebouwd spesialbygd, tilrettelagt specjalnie przystosowany de construção especial amenajat изготовленный для специальных целей účelový namenski namenski građen specialbyggd ทำขึ้นตามความประสงค์ amaca uygun yapılmış 特意製作的，專用的 спеціально побудований کسي خاص مقصد سے بنايا ہوا được làm với mục đích nhất định 特意制作的，专用的
on purpose
intentionally Did you break the cup on purpose? aspris عَمْدا، عَن قَصْد нарочно úmyslně med vilje absichtlich επίτηδες a propósito, adrede sihilikult عمداً tarkoituksella exprès בְּכַווָנָה जानबूझकर इरादतन szándékosan dengan sengaja viljandi apposta わざと 의도적으로 tyčia tīši; ar nodomu dgn sengaja met opzet med vilje/forsett umyślnie de propósito dinadins нарочно úmyselne namenoma namerno avsiktligt, med flit อย่างตั้งใจ kasten, mahsus 故意地，為了 спеціально; навмисно جان بوجھ کر cố tình 故意地，为了
serve a purpose
to be useful in some way. dien 'n doel يَفي بالغَرَض имам употреба posloužit k tjene et formål zweckdienlich sein εξυπηρετώ κπ. σκοπό servir de/para algo kasulik olema به درد بخور tarkoituksenmukainen servir à qqch. לְשָרֵת בְּכַווָנָה किसी रूप में उपयोगी होना megfelel céljának berguna gegna hlutverki servire a uno scopo 目的にかなう 유용하다 tikti noderēt; atbilst mērķim dapat digunakan ergens toedienen tjene et formål nadawać się ter utilidade a servi la ceva годиться poslúžiť na služiti (čemu) poslužiti svrsi tjäna ett syfte เป็นประโยชน์ amaca uygun olmak 對...適合，對...有用 служити певній меті مفيد ہونا có ích 对...适合，对...有用
to no purpose
with no useful results. dien geen doel nie بِدون فائِدَه، بِدون نتيجَةٍ مُفيدَه без резултат bez užitku til ingen nytte vergeblich άσκοπα, ανώφελα en vano tulemusteta بیهوده turhaan en pure perte לְלא תוֹצָאוֹת תַכלִיתִיוֹת व्यर्थ, निरुद्देश्य, निष्प्रयोजन hiába tanpa hasil árangurslaust (senza alcun risultato) むだに 헛되게 tuščiai, veltui bez panākumiem; veltīgi tdk berkesan tevergeefs til ingen nytte bezskutecznie em vão fără rost напрасно bez úžitku zaman bez uspeha till ingen nytta ไม่เกิดประโยชน์ boş yere, nafile 不得要領的，不合適的 марно; даремно بلا وجہ، بے فائدہ vô ích 不得要领的，不合适的
purpose → غرض účel formål Zweck σκοπός propósito tarkoitus but svrha scopo 目的 목적 doel formål cel propósito цель syfte วัตถุประสงค์ amaç mục đích 目的
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