function

American  

[fuhngk-shuhn] / ˈfʌŋk ʃən /

noun

1. the kind of action or activity proper to a person, thing, or institution; the purpose for which something is designed or exists; role.

2. any ceremonious public or social gathering or occasion.

3. a factor related to or dependent upon other factors.

   Price is a function of supply and demand.

4. Mathematics.

   1. Also called correspondence, map, mapping, transformation.  a relation between two sets in which one element of the second set is assigned to each element of the first set, as the expression y = x 2 ; operator.

   2. Also called multiple-value function.  a relation between two sets in which two or more elements of the second set are assigned to each element of the first set, as y 2 = x 2 , which assigns to every x the two values y = + x and y = − x.

   3. a set of ordered pairs in which none of the first elements of the pairs appears twice.

   4. a relationship in which an input value of a variable has a specifically calculated output value: for example, if the function of x is x 2 , the output will always be the square of whatever the value of x is. f, F

5. Geometry.

   1. a formula expressing a relation between the angles of a triangle and its sides, as sine or cosine.

   2. hyperbolic function.

6. Grammar.

   1. the grammatical role a linguistic form has or the position it occupies in a particular construction.

   2. the grammatical roles or the positions of a linguistic form or form class collectively.

7. Sociology. the contribution made by a sociocultural phenomenon to an ongoing social system.

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verb (used without object)

1. to perform a specified action or activity; work; operate.

   The computer isn't functioning now. He rarely functions before noon.

2. to have or exercise a function; serve.

   In earlier English the present tense often functioned as a future. This orange crate can function as a chair.

function British  

/ ˈfʌŋkʃən /

noun

1. the natural action or intended purpose of a person or thing in a specific role

   the function of a hammer is to hit nails into wood

2. an official or formal social gathering or ceremony

3. a factor dependent upon another or other factors

   the length of the flight is a function of the weather

4. Also called: map.   mapping.  maths logic a relation between two sets that associates a unique element (the value) of the second (the range) with each element (the argument) of the first (the domain): a many-one relation. Symbol: f( x ) The value of f( x ) for x = 2 is f(2)

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verb

1. to operate or perform as specified; work properly

2. (foll by as) to perform the action or role (of something or someone else)

   a coin may function as a screwdriver

function Scientific  

/ fŭngk′shən /

1. A relationship between two sets that matches each member of the first set with a unique member of the second set. Functions are often expressed as an equation, such as y = x + 5, meaning that y is a function of x such that for any value of x, the value of y will be 5 greater than x.

2. A quantity whose value depends on the value given to one or more related quantities. For example, the area of a square is a function of the length of its sides.

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function Cultural  

1. In mathematics, a quantity whose value is determined by the value of some other quantity. For example, “The yield of this field is a function of the amount of fertilizer applied” means that a given amount of fertilizer will yield an amount of whatever crop is growing.

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Other Word Forms

• functionless adjective
• interfunction adjective
• multifunction adjective
• nonfunctioning adjective
• overfunctioning adjective
• prefunction noun
• refunction verb (used without object)
• subfunction noun
• superfunction noun
• unfunctioning adjective
• well-functioning adjective

Etymology

Origin of function

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin functiōn- (stem of functiō ) “a performance, execution,” equivalent to funct(us) (past participle of fungī ) “performed, executed” + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

The wave functions of the fermions change so extensively that they lose their original form, creating a complicated background where coordinated motion breaks down.

From Science Daily

Each group has unique characteristics that influence where it lives, how it functions in marine ecosystems, and how vulnerable it is to climate change.

From Science Daily

This low bioavailability raises an important question: if so little is absorbed, how do flavanols still appear to influence brain function and the nervous system?

From Science Daily

The 41-year-old ski star with a surgically repaired right knee and without a functioning ACL in her left will begin the race as a legitimate contender to win a medal.

From The Wall Street Journal

"What she is doing now would not be nearly as surprising in an elite athlete whose knee was already functioning like the ACL was torn at baseline."

From BBC

Related Words

• action
• activity
• affair
• behavior
• business
• duty
• exercise
• objective
• operation
• part
• power
• purpose
• responsibility
• role
• service
• situation
• task
• work