definition

See also: Definition and définition

English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation
  • (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

definition (countable and uncountable, plural definitions)

  1. (semantics, lexicography) A statement of the meaning of a word or word group or a sign or symbol (dictionary definitions).
    Your definition of "elephant" needs to be more precise than "a big animal with large ears".
  2. (usually with the definite article the) A clear instance conforming to the dictionary or textbook definition.
    • 2008 May, Shoeless Wayne Santos, “Baroque” (game review), GameAxis Unwired, Hardware Zone Pte, page 51:
      Baroque is a good game, but only for a very narrow subset of the gaming audience. It is the very definition of a niche title.
    • 2016 March 1, Stuart Heritage, “Comedy Bang! Bang! It’s silly, it spoofy - it’s the very definition of a hidden gem”, in The Guardian:
      Comedy Bang! Bang! It’s silly, it spoofy – it’s the very definition of a hidden gem
    • 2019 September 25, Chris Cilizza, “The Ukraine call ‘transcript’ is pretty darn close to a smoking gun”, in ThePo!nt, CNN:
      That Trump just came out and asked for Zelensky to investigate the Bidens – after reminding him several times of how much the US did for Ukraine!!!! – is something very close to the textbook definition of a quid pro quo.
  3. A statement expressing the essential nature of something; formulation
  4. The action or process of defining.
  5. The act of defining; determination of the limits.
  6. A product of defining.
  7. The action or power of describing, explaining, or making definite and clear.
    Her comic genius is beyond definition.
  8. Clarity of visual presentation, distinctness of outline or detail.
    The definition of a telescope.
    Improve the definition of an image.
    high-defintion videos
  9. Clarity, especially of musical sound in reproduction.
  10. Sharp demarcation of outlines or limits.
    A jacket with distinct waist definition.
  11. (bodybuilding) The degree to which individual muscles are distinct on the body.
  12. (programming) A statement which provides a previous declaration with a value or body of a subroutine (in the case of function).
  13. (mathematics) A statement that establishes the referent of a term or notation.

Synonyms

Hyponyms

Derived terms

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

See also

References

Finnish

Noun

definition

  1. genitive singular of definitio

Middle French

Etymology

Ultimately from Latin dēfīnītiō.

Noun

definition f (plural definitions)

  1. definition (clarification of this definition is needed)

Descendants

Swedish

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /dɛfɪnɪ¹ɧuːn/
  • Audio(file)

Noun

definition c

  1. a definition

Declension
Declension of definition 
Singular Plural
Indefinite Definite Indefinite Definite
Nominative definition definitionen definitioner definitionerna
Genitive definitions definitionens definitioners definitionernas

See also

References
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