English Explanatory Dictionary

define

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb

To determine with precision; to mark out with distinctness; to ascertain or exhibit clearly.
To settle, decide (an argument etc.)
To express the essential nature of something.
To state the meaning of a word, phrase, sign, or symbol.
To describe, explain, or make definite and clear; used to request the listener or other person to elaborate or explain more clearly his or her intended meaning of a word or expression.
To demark sharply the outlines or limits of an area or concept.
To establish the referent of a term or notation.

noun

A kind of macro in source code that replaces one text string with another wherever it occurs.

Pronunciation

/dɪˈfaɪn/ en-us-define.ogg

Word forms

define defines defining defined

Etymology

From Middle English definen, from Old French definer, variant of definir, from Latin dēfīniō (“limit, settle, define”), from dē + fīniō (“set a limit, bound, end”).

Related words

Derived words

career-defining codefine definability definable definatory defined benefit defined benefits defined contribution defined contributions definee definement definer defining vocabulary era-defining misdefine overdefine predefine pre-defined redefine semidefine software defined radio undefine underdefine user-defined function user-defined graphic

This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.

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