Lexic.us

Definition of Define

1. Verb. Determine the essential quality of.

2. Verb. Give a definition for the meaning of a word. "Define `sadness'"

3. Verb. Determine the nature of. "What defines a good wine?"

4. Verb. Show the form or outline of. "The camera could define the smallest object"

5. Verb. Decide upon or fix definitely. "Specify the parameters"

Definition of Define

1. v. t. To fix the bounds of; to bring to a termination; to end.

2. v. i. To determine; to decide.

Definition of Define

1. Verb. To determine. ¹

2. Verb. To express the essential nature of something. ¹

3. Verb. To state the meaning of a word or word group or a sign or symbol. ¹

4. Verb. To describe, explain, or make definite and clear. ¹

5. Verb. To demark sharply the outlines or limits of an area or concept. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Define

1. to state the meaning of [v -FINED, -FINING, -FINES]

Medical Definition of Define

1. 1. To fix the bounds of; to bring to a termination; to end. "To define controversies." 2. To determine or clearly exhibit the boundaries of; to mark the limits of; as, to define the extent of a kingdom or country. 3. To determine with precision; to mark out with distinctness; to ascertain or exhibit clearly; as, the defining power of an optical instrument. "Rings . . . Very distinct and well defined." (Sir I. Newton) 4. To determine the precise signification of; to fix the meaning of; to describe accurately; to explain; to expound or interpret; as, to define a word, a phrase, or a scientific term. "They define virtue to be life ordered according to nature." (Robynson (More's Utopia)) Origin: OE. Definer, usually, to end, to finish, F. Definir to define, L. Definire to limit, define; de- + finire to limit, end, finis boundary, limit, end. See Final, Finish. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Define

defilements defiler defilers defiles defileth defiliation defiliations defiling defiltration definability

definable definably definate definately definatly define (current term) defined defined medium definedness definement

definements definer definers defines definienda definiendum definiens definientia defining defining-vocabulary

Literary usage of Define

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. United States Supreme Court Reports by Lawyers Co-operative Publishing Company, United States Supreme Court (1910)
"Congress is bound to define 157*] it *in terms, and ¡з not at liberty to leave it to be ascertained by judicial interpretation. ..."

2. South Eastern Reporter by West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, West Publishing Company, South Carolina Supreme Court (1913)
"The courts first above mentioned have an inherent power to define contempts, ... Code 1910, § 4643, and their power to define contempts or punish therefor ..."

3. The Republic of Plato by Plato (1909)
"... and for this reason we have a second time taken up the character of real philosophers and have of necessity attempted to define it.” “That is true.” VI. ..."

4. Science by American Association for the Advancement of Science (1896)
"But until we can define just what the superior ' significances ' are, in the better of two good pictures—and surely we hardly ever can—the explanation of ..."

5. The American Naturalist by American Society of Naturalists, Essex Institute (1908)
"Near the margin of the gland it is not so easy, however, to define the contour of the individual cells, these passing gradually into the regular type FIG. ..."

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