define
de·fine
(dĭ-fīn′)v. de·fined, de·fin·ing, de·fines
v.tr.
1.
a. To state the precise meaning of (a word or sense of a word, for example).
b. To describe the nature or basic qualities of; explain: define the properties of a new drug; a study that defines people according to their median incomes.
2.
a. To make clear the outline or form of; delineate: gentle hills that were defined against the sky.
b. To specify distinctly: define the weapons to be used in limited warfare.
3. To give form or meaning to: "For him, a life is defined by action" (Jay Parini).
v.intr.
To make or write a definition.
[Middle English definen, diffinen, from Old French definir, diffiner, from Latin dēfīnīre, to limit, determine : dē-, intensive pref.; see de- + fīnis, boundary, limit.]
de·fin′a·bil′i·ty n.
de·fin′a·ble adj.
de·fin′a·bly adv.
de·fine′ment n.
de·fin′er n.
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.
define
(dɪˈfaɪn)vb (tr)
1. to state precisely the meaning of (words, terms, etc)
2. to describe the nature, properties, or essential qualities of
3. to determine the boundary or extent of
4. (often passive) to delineate the form or outline of: the shape of the tree was clearly defined by the light behind it.
5. to fix with precision; specify
[C14: from Old French definer to determine, from Latin dēfīnīre to set bounds to, from fīnīre to finish]
deˈfinable adj
deˌfinaˈbility n
deˈfinably adv
deˈfiner n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
de•fine
(dɪˈfaɪn)v. -fined, -fin•ing. v.t.
1. to state or set forth the meaning of (a word, etc.).
2. to explain or identify the nature or essential qualities of; describe.
3. to specify: to define responsibilities.
4. to determine or fix the boundaries or extent of.
5. to make clear the outline or form of.
v.i.6. to set forth the meaning of a word, phrase, etc.
[1325–75; Middle English def(f)inen < Old French definer to put an end to « Latin dēfīnīre to limit, define =dē- de- + fīnīre; see finish]
de•fin′a•ble, adj.
de•fin`a•bil′i•ty, n.
de•fin′a•bly, adv.
de•fin′er, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
define
Past participle: defined
Gerund: defining
| Imperative |
|---|
| define |
| define |
| Present |
|---|
| I define |
| you define |
| he/she/it defines |
| we define |
| you define |
| they define |
| Preterite |
|---|
| I defined |
| you defined |
| he/she/it defined |
| we defined |
| you defined |
| they defined |
| Present Continuous |
|---|
| I am defining |
| you are defining |
| he/she/it is defining |
| we are defining |
| you are defining |
| they are defining |
| Present Perfect |
|---|
| I have defined |
| you have defined |
| he/she/it has defined |
| we have defined |
| you have defined |
| they have defined |
| Past Continuous |
|---|
| I was defining |
| you were defining |
| he/she/it was defining |
| we were defining |
| you were defining |
| they were defining |
| Past Perfect |
|---|
| I had defined |
| you had defined |
| he/she/it had defined |
| we had defined |
| you had defined |
| they had defined |
| Future |
|---|
| I will define |
| you will define |
| he/she/it will define |
| we will define |
| you will define |
| they will define |
| Future Perfect |
|---|
| I will have defined |
| you will have defined |
| he/she/it will have defined |
| we will have defined |
| you will have defined |
| they will have defined |
| Future Continuous |
|---|
| I will be defining |
| you will be defining |
| he/she/it will be defining |
| we will be defining |
| you will be defining |
| they will be defining |
| Present Perfect Continuous |
|---|
| I have been defining |
| you have been defining |
| he/she/it has been defining |
| we have been defining |
| you have been defining |
| they have been defining |
| Future Perfect Continuous |
|---|
| I will have been defining |
| you will have been defining |
| he/she/it will have been defining |
| we will have been defining |
| you will have been defining |
| they will have been defining |
| Past Perfect Continuous |
|---|
| I had been defining |
| you had been defining |
| he/she/it had been defining |
| we had been defining |
| you had been defining |
| they had been defining |
| Conditional |
|---|
| I would define |
| you would define |
| he/she/it would define |
| we would define |
| you would define |
| they would define |
| Past Conditional |
|---|
| I would have defined |
| you would have defined |
| he/she/it would have defined |
| we would have defined |
| you would have defined |
| they would have defined |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
| Verb | 1. | define - determine the essential quality of determine - fix in scope; fix the boundaries of; "the tree determines the border of the property" be - have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun); "John is rich"; "This is not a good answer" redefine - give a new or different definition to; "She redefined his duties" |
| 2. | define - give a definition for the meaning of a word; "Define `sadness'" specify, fix, limit, set, determine, define - decide upon or fix definitely; "fix the variables"; "specify the parameters" redefine - give a new or different definition of (a word) | |
| 3. | define - determine the nature of; "What defines a good wine?" characterise, characterize - be characteristic of; "What characterizes a Venetian painting?" | |
| 4. | define - show the form or outline of; "The tree was clearly defined by the light"; "The camera could define the smallest object" show - make visible or noticeable; "She showed her talent for cooking"; "Show me your etchings, please" | |
| 5. | define - decide upon or fix definitely; "fix the variables"; "specify the parameters" quantify - use as a quantifier choose, pick out, select, take - pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives; "Take any one of these cards"; "Choose a good husband for your daughter"; "She selected a pair of shoes from among the dozen the salesgirl had shown her" name - mention and identify by name; "name your accomplices!" reset - set anew; "They re-set the date on the clock" define - give a definition for the meaning of a word; "Define `sadness'" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
define
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
Translations
definovatstanovit
definerepræcisere
määritellämäärittäärajataselvittäätäsmentää
definirati
skilgreina
定義する
정의하다
apibrėžiamasapibrėžimasapibrėžti
definētnoteikt
definovať
opredeliti
definiera
นิยาม
định nghĩa
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
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
define
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) verbto fix or state the exact meaning of. Words are defined in a dictionary.
deˈfinable adjectivedefinition (defiˈniʃən) nounan explanation of the exact meaning of a word or phrase. Is that definition accurate?
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
define
→ يُحَدِّدُ stanovit definere definieren καθορίζω definir määritellä définir definirati definire 定義する 정의하다 definiëren definere zdefiniować definir определять definiera นิยาม tanımlamak định nghĩa 解释Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009