comprehensive
[kom-pri-hen-siv]
- of large scope; covering or involving much; inclusive: a comprehensive study of world affairs.
- comprehending or thoroughly understanding with one's mind; having an extensive mental range or grasp, as of a particular subject or many subjects.
- Insurance. covering or providing broad protection against loss.
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- Often comprehensives. Also called comprehensive examination. an examination of extensive coverage given to measure a student's general progress, proficiency in his or her major field of study, or the like.
- the detailed layout of an advertisement, showing placement of photographs, illustrations, copy, etc., as for presentation to a client.Compare visual(def 7).
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Origin of comprehensive
Synonyms
See more synonyms for comprehensive on Thesaurus.com1. broad, wide, extensive, full.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for comprehensively
Contemporary Examples
He was comprehensively out-foxed by Salmond, the Scottish National Party leader, who now finds himself in a win-win position.
Anarchy for the U.K.? British Leaders Panicking Over Scottish Vote for IndependenceNico Hines
September 10, 2014
No news organization covered September 11, during or since, as comprehensively or as poignantly as the Times did.
Inside Tania Head’s Terrible 9/11 Lie: ‘The Woman Who Wasn’t There’Robin Gaby Fisher, Angelo J. Guglielmo, Jr.
April 6, 2012
They were raised in a comprehensively political household, sons of the Marxist historian Ralph Miliband.
Drainage had not been as comprehensively planned as the London system.
This is the sort of unapologetically practical, comprehensively preventive measure we should be thinking of.
Historical Examples
She answered Eugene Snow's every question unhesitatingly and comprehensively.
Her Father's DaughterGene Stratton-Porter
Disko removed his cigar and waved it comprehensively round the cabin.
"Captains Courageous"Rudyard Kipling
He waved an arm, comprehensively taking in the whole countryside.
The Watchers of the PlainsRidgewell Cullum
Andrew's face also was full, but rather in places than comprehensively.
The Prodigal FatherJ. Storer Clouston
"I am afraid of marrying on any means," she says, comprehensively.
Red as a Rose is SheRhoda Broughton
comprehensive
- of broad scope or content; including all or much
- (of a car insurance policy) providing protection against most risks, including third-party liability, fire, theft, and damage
- having the ability to understand
- of, relating to, or being a comprehensive school
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- short for comprehensive school
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for comprehensively
comprehensive
adj.
"containing much," 1610s, from French comprehénsif, from Late Latin comprehensivus, from comprehens-, past participle stem of Latin comprehendere (see comprehend). Related: Comprehensively (mid-15c.); comprehensiveness.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper