def·i·ni·tion
(dĕf′ə-nĭsh′ən)n.
1.
a. A statement of the meaning of a word, phrase, or term, as in a dictionary entry.
b. A statement or description of the fundamental character or scope of something: "[The panel] calls for a clearer definition of the status of people captured in American military operations" (Economist).
2. The act or process of stating a precise meaning or significance; formulation of a meaning: The definition of terms is essential to any successful scholarly study.
3. The state of being clearly outlined: "With the drizzle, the trees in the little clearing had lost definition" (Anthony Hyde).
4. The level of detail in a recording, production, or digital encoding of an image or sound.
[Middle English diffinicioun, from Old French definition, from Latin dēfīnītiō, dēfīnītiōn-, from dēfīnītus, past participle of dēfīnīre, to define; see define.]
def′i·ni′tion·al adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
definition
(ˌdɛfɪˈnɪʃən)n
1. a formal and concise statement of the meaning of a word, phrase, etc
2. the act of defining a word, phrase, etc
3. specification of the essential properties of something, or of the criteria which uniquely identify it
4. the act of making clear or definite
5. (Logic) the state or condition of being clearly defined or definite
6. (Photography) a measure of the clarity of an optical, photographic, or television image as characterized by its sharpness and contrast
ˌdefiˈnitional adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
def•i•ni•tion
(ˌdɛf əˈnɪʃ ən)n.
1. the act of making definite, distinct, or clear.
2. the formal statement of the meaning or significance of a word, phrase, etc.
3. the condition of being definite, distinct, or clear.
4. sharpness of the image formed by an optical system.
[1350–1400; Middle English < Old French < Latin]
def`i•ni′tion•al, adj.
def`i•ni′tion•al•ly, adv.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
| Noun | 1. |  definition - a concise explanation of the meaning of a word or phrase or symbolexplanation, account - a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.; "the explanation was very simple"; "I expected a brief account" contextual definition - a definition in which the term is used by embedding it in a larger expression containing its explanation; "a contextual definition of `legal duty' might be `X has a legal duty to do Y means that X is required to do Y by a contract relationship that would be upheld in a court of law'" dictionary definition - a definition that reports the standard uses of a word or phrase or symbol explicit definition - a definition that gives an exact equivalent of the term defined ostensive definition - a definition that points out or exhibits instances of the term defined recursive definition - (mathematics) a definition of a function from which values of the function can be calculated in a finite number of steps redefinition - the act of giving a new definition; "words like `conservative' require periodic redefinition"; "she provided a redefinition of his duties" stipulative definition - a definition that is stipulated by someone and that is not a standard usage |
| 2. | definition - clarity of outline; "exercise had given his muscles superior definition" distinctness, sharpness - the quality of being sharp and clear |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
definition
noun
1. description, interpretation, explanation, clarification, exposition, explication, elucidation, statement of meaning There is no general agreement on a standard definition of sanity.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
Translations
تَعْريفتَعْرِيف
definice
definitiongengivelseopløsningopløsningsevne
määritelmämäärittelyrajauskirkkaus
definicija
definíció
skilgreining
定義
정의
definícia
opredelitevrazlaga
definition
คำจำกัดความ
định nghĩa
definition
[ˌdefɪˈnɪʃən] N1. [of word, concept] → definición f; [of powers, boundaries, duties] → delimitación f
by definition → por definición
by definition → por definición
2. (Phot) → nitidez f, definición f
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
definition
[ˌdɛfɪˈnɪʃən] nCollins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
definition
n
(of powers, duties, boundaries) → Festlegung f, → Bestimmung f
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
define
(diˈfain) verb to fix or state the exact meaning of. Words are defined in a dictionary.
deˈfinable adjectivedefinition (defiˈniʃən) noun
an explanation of the exact meaning of a word or phrase. Is that definition accurate?
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
definition
→ تَعْرِيف definice definition Definition ορισμός definición määritelmä définition definicija definizione 定義 정의 definitie definisjon definicja definição определение definition คำจำกัดความ tanım định nghĩa 定义Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
def·i·ni·tion
n. definición.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012