define
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to state or set forth the meaning of (a word, phrase, etc.).
They disagreed on how to define “liberal.”
-
to explain or identify the nature or essential qualities of; describe.
to define judicial functions.
-
to fix or lay down clearly and definitely; specify distinctly.
to define one's responsibilities.
-
to determine or fix the boundaries or extent of.
to define property with stakes.
-
to make clear the outline or form of.
The roof was boldly defined against the sky.
verb (used without object)
verb
-
to state precisely the meaning of (words, terms, etc)
-
to describe the nature, properties, or essential qualities of
-
to determine the boundary or extent of
-
(often passive) to delineate the form or outline of
the shape of the tree was clearly defined by the light behind it
-
to fix with precision; specify
Other Word Forms
- definability noun
- definable adjective
- definably adverb
- definement noun
- definer noun
- misdefine verb (used with object)
- nondefinability noun
- nondefinable adjective
- nondefinably adverb
- nondefined adjective
- nondefiner noun
- predefine verb (used with object)
- redefine verb (used with object)
- self-defined adjective
- semidefined adjective
- undefinable adjective
Etymology
Origin of define
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English def(f)inen, from Anglo-French, Old French definer “to put an end to,” from Latin dēfīnīre ”to limit, define,“ equivalent to dē- “from, away from, out of” + fīnīre “to end”; de-, finish
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Once fully retired, the card that helped define modern New York commuting will become a relic — less a transit tool than a piece of civic nostalgia.
From Salon
Bardot was not only one of the defining faces of post-war cinema but also a figure whose life and legacy embodied both cultural transformation and intense controversy.
From Salon
In many ways the sport and the harsh conditions in which it thrived embodied the traditional values and traits — resilience, community, politeness, resourcefulness — that have come to define Canada’s unique “northern character.”
From Los Angeles Times
Doctors say psychosis is marked by the presence of three factors: hallucinations, disorganized thinking or communication, and the presence of delusions, defined as fixed, false beliefs that aren’t widely held.
These molecules are defined by their distinctive twisted ring shapes, which help give them powerful biological effects, including anti tumor and anti inflammatory activity.
From Science Daily
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
