define
To determine with precision; to mark out with distinctness; to ascertain or exhibit clearly.
Example
“the defining power of an optical instrument”
Other meanings
To express the essential nature of something.
“I define myself as a techno-anarchist.”
To state the meaning of a word, phrase, sign, or symbol.
“The textbook defined speed as velocity divided by time.”
Synonyms
- specify
Related words
- codefine
- definability
- definatory
- definee
- definement
- misdefine
- overdefine
- predefine
- redefine
- semidefine
- undefine
- underdefine
Example sentences
Word history
From Latin "dēfīniō" (limit, settle, define).
Where this comes from
This definition is adapted from “define” on Wiktionary, by its contributors; example sentences are from Tatoeba, credited to their authors above; related-word lists use Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0, based on Princeton WordNet), published under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page is published under the same licence.