abstraction

[ab-strak-shuhn]

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.

abstraction

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• abstractional adjective
• abstractively adverb
• abstractive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of abstraction¹

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

Colors become aberrant, shifting suddenly from greens into turquoise blue, while authentic nature steps aside for abstraction.

From Los Angeles Times

Restrictions are being put into place in the coming days which limit the removal of water from the natural environment around the two rivers for industry and agriculture, a process known as abstraction.

From BBC

In essence, “the economy” is an abstraction that individuals and groups give meaning.

From Salon

In this way, the personal is truly political, as direct experience is more important than statistical abstraction.

From Salon

Within that commemorative framework, Hiroshima has been effectively rendered an abstraction and reduced to a cautionary tale.

From Salon