pos·tu·late (p s ch -l t )tr.v. pos·tu·lat·ed, pos·tu·lat·ing, pos·tu·lates 1. To make claim for; demand. 2. To assume or assert the truth, reality, or necessity of, especially as a basis of an argument. 3. To assume as a premise or axiom; take for granted. See Synonyms at presume. n. (p sch-l t, -lt)1. Something assumed without proof as being self-evident or generally accepted, especially when used as a basis for an argument: "the postulate that there is little moral difference between the superpowers" (Henry A. Kissinger). 2. A fundamental element; a basic principle. 3. Mathematics An axiom. 4. A requirement; a prerequisite. [Medieval Latin postul re, postult-, to nominate to a bishopric, to assume, from Latin, to request; see prek- in Indo-European roots.]pos tu·lation n. |
postulate
vb [ˈpɒstjʊˌleɪt] (tr; may take a clause as object)
1. to assume to be true or existent; take for granted
2. to ask, demand, or claim
3. to nominate (a person) to a post or office subject to approval by a higher authority
n [ˈpɒstjʊlɪt]
1. something taken as self-evident or assumed as the basis of an argument
2. a necessary condition or prerequisite
3. a fundamental principle
4. (Mathematics) Logic Maths an unproved and indemonstrable statement that should be taken for granted: used as an initial premise or underlying hypothesis in a process of reasoning
[from Latin postulāre to ask for, require; related to pōscere to request]
postulation n
| postulate (psch-lt) See axiom. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | postulate - (logic) a proposition that is accepted as true in order to provide a basis for logical reasoning Bayes' postulate - (statistics) the difficulty of applying Bayes' theorem is that the probabilities of the different causes are seldom known, in which case it may be postulated that they are all equal (sometimes known as postulating the equidistribution of ignorance) logic - the branch of philosophy that analyzes inference proposition - (logic) a statement that affirms or denies something and is either true or false assumption, premise, premiss - a statement that is assumed to be true and from which a conclusion can be drawn; "on the assumption that he has been injured we can infer that he will not to play" |
| Verb | 1. | postulate - maintain or assert; "He contended that Communism had no future" claim - assert or affirm strongly; state to be true or existing; "He claimed that he killed the burglar" |
| 2. | postulate - take as a given; assume as a postulate or axiom; "He posited three basic laws of nature" presuppose, suppose - take for granted or as a given; suppose beforehand; "I presuppose that you have done your work" | |
| 3. | postulate - require as useful, just, or proper; "It takes nerve to do what she did"; "success usually requires hard work"; "This job asks a lot of patience and skill"; "This position demands a lot of personal sacrifice"; "This dinner calls for a spectacular dessert"; "This intervention does not postulate a patient's consent" exact, claim, take - take as an undesirable consequence of some event or state of affairs; "the accident claimed three lives"; "The hard work took its toll on her" govern - require to be in a certain grammatical case, voice, or mood; "most transitive verbs govern the accusative case in German" draw - require a specified depth for floating; "This boat draws 70 inches" cost - require to lose, suffer, or sacrifice; "This mistake cost him his job" cry for, cry out for - need badly or desperately; "This question cries out for an answer" compel - necessitate or exact; "the water shortage compels conservation" |
postulate
verb (Formal) presuppose, suppose, advance, propose, assume, put forward, take for granted, predicate, theorize, posit, hypothesize Freud postulated that we all have a death instinct.
Translations
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