abstraction

American  

[ab-strak-shuhn] / æbˈstræk ʃən /

noun

1. an abstract or general idea or term.

2. the act of considering something as a general quality or characteristic, apart from concrete realities, specific objects, or actual instances.

3. an impractical idea; something visionary and unrealistic.

4. the act of taking away or separating; withdrawal.

   The sensation of cold is due to the abstraction of heat from our bodies.

5. secret removal, especially theft.

6. absent-mindedness; inattention; mental absorption.

7. Fine Arts.

   1. the abstract qualities or characteristics of a work of art.

   2. a work of art, especially a nonrepresentational one, stressing formal relationships.

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abstraction British  

/ æbˈstrækʃən /

noun

1. absence of mind; preoccupation

2. the process of formulating generalized ideas or concepts by extracting common qualities from specific examples

3. an idea or concept formulated in this way

   good and evil are abstractions

4. logic an operator that forms a class name or predicate from any given expression See also lambda calculus

5. an abstract painting, sculpture, etc

6. the act of withdrawing or removing

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Other Word Forms

• abstractional adjective
• abstractive adjective
• abstractively adverb

Etymology

Origin of abstraction

First recorded in 1540–50; from Late Latin abstractiōn-, stem of abstractiō “separation,” literally, “a drawing off,” from abstract(us) “drawn off” + -iō noun suffix; abstract -ion

Example Sentences

Born in the 19th century, Brancusi made his career in 20th century Paris, his work the epitome of Modernist abstraction.

From Los Angeles Times

Both brains and slugs use the same chemical mechanisms to develop abstractions, general rules to guide their hosts through the chaos of moment-to-moment experience.

From The Wall Street Journal

At the same time the image is simplified to the point of abstraction.

From The Wall Street Journal

It isn’t only because dramatic realism is broadly appealing to a public in ways modern abstraction isn’t.

From Los Angeles Times

In Monet’s views of the Palazzo Ducale seen from a gondola, the pale wall of the building and its block of rosy reflection threaten to become an abstraction.

From The Wall Street Journal