defining

[ dih-fahy-ning ]

/ dɪˈfaɪ nɪŋ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR defining ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

decisive; critically important: Taking a course in architecture was a defining turn in her life.

Nearby words

Related formsnon·de·fin·ing, adjectiveself-de·fin·ing, adjective

define

[ dih-fahyn ]

/ dɪˈfaɪn /

verb (used with object), de·fined, de·fin·ing.

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), de·fined, de·fin·ing.

to set forth the meaning of a word, phrase, etc.; construct a definition.

Origin of define

1325–75; Middle English def(f)inen < Anglo-French, Old French definer to put an end to < Latin dēfīnīre to limit, define, equivalent to dē- de- + fīnīre; see finish

Related forms

de·fin·a·ble, adjectivede·fin·a·bil·i·ty, nounde·fin·a·bly, adverbde·fine·ment, noun

de·fin·er, nounmis·de·fine, verb (used with object), mis·de·fined, mis·de·fin·ing.non·de·fin·a·bil·i·ty, nounnon·de·fin·a·ble, adjectivenon·de·fin·a·bly, adverbnon·de·fined, adjectivenon·de·fin·er, nounpre·de·fine, verb (used with object), pre·de·fined, pre·de·fin·ing.re·de·fine, verb (used with object), re·de·fined, re·de·fin·ing.self-de·fined, adjectivesem·i·de·fined, adjectiveun·de·fin·a·ble, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for defining

But if that is the low bar for defining a war, then I hope the draft is reinstated.
Why I’m for the War on Christmas|Asawin Suebsaeng|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She said the defining characteristic of her husband was his sensitivity.
The Life and Hard Times Of The Family A Cuban Defector Left Behind|Brin-Jonathan Butler|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Were you defining yourself as a fiction writer then, or did you already envision writing essays like the ones in The Unspeakable?
Meghan Daum On Tackling The Unspeakable Parts Of Life|David Yaffe|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But the October 1964 telecast is still regarded as the defining Ronald Reagan speech.
Remembering Reagan’s Defining Speech|Stuart Stevens|October 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The researchers deliberately refrained from defining “moral” and “immoral” for study participants.
It’s Official: Religion Doesn’t Make You More Moral|Elizabeth Picciuto|September 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He begins by defining the principlePg 86 of Compulsory Education.
Matthew Arnold|G. W. E. Russell
These two testimonies of Lessings devotion are of importance in defining his attitude toward Yorick.
Laurence Sterne in Germany|Harvey Waterman Thayer
In the list was one "defining the power of sundry commissions."
The Deluge|David Graham Phillips
But if this be the case, it is a result to be demonstrated, not a premiss from which to start in defining truth and falsehood.
The Analysis of Mind|Bertrand Russell
Self-evaluation and evaluation by others in the process of defining and achieving goals of common interest are quite distinct.
The Civilization of Illiteracy|Mihai Nadin

British Dictionary definitions for defining

define

/ (dɪˈfaɪn) /

verb (tr)

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 ofthe shape of the tree was clearly defined by the light behind it

to fix with precision; specify

Derived Formsdefinable, adjectivedefinability, noundefinably, adverbdefiner, noun

Word Origin for define

C14: from Old French definer to determine, from Latin dēfīnīre to set bounds to, from fīnīre to finish

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 defining

define

late 14c., "to specify; to end," from Old French defenir "to end, terminate, determine," and directly from Latin definire "to limit, determine, explain," from de- "completely" (see de-) + finire "to bound, limit," from finis "boundary, end" (see finish (n.)). Related: Defined; defining.

defining

adjective

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

define

verb (used with object), de·fined, de·fin·ing.

verb (used without object), de·fined, de·fin·ing.

Origin of define

Examples from the Web for defining

define

verb (tr)

Word Origin for define

define