postulate

[ verb pos-chuh-leyt; noun pos-chuh-lit, -leyt ]

/ verb ˈpɒs tʃəˌleɪt; noun ˈpɒs tʃə lɪt, -ˌleɪt /

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See synonyms for: postulate / postulated / postulating on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), pos·tu·lat·ed, pos·tu·lat·ing.

to ask, demand, or claim.

to claim or assume the existence or truth of, especially as a basis for reasoning or arguing.

to assume without proof, or as self-evident; take for granted.

Mathematics, Logic. to assume as a postulate.

noun

something taken as self-evident or assumed without proof as a basis for reasoning.

Mathematics, Logic. a proposition that requires no proof, being self-evident, or that is for a specific purpose assumed true, and that is used in the proof of other propositions; axiom.

a fundamental principle.

a necessary condition; prerequisite.

Origin of postulate

1525–35; <Latin postulātum petition, thing requested, noun use of neuter of past participle of postulāre to request, demand, akin to pōscere to request

How to use postulate in a sentence

And with those exceptions we have brought them into the framework of our picture of the Universe by postulating "dense matter."
Unthinkable|Roger Phillips Graham
This, of course, is equivalent to postulating the cerebral cortex as the exclusive seat of higher intellection.
A History of Science, Volume 4(of 5)|Henry Smith Williams
From the above instances, which could be multiplied, we have no hesitation in postulating a Hebrew original of i.-iii.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Part 1, Slice 3|Various
Nothing would be gained, however, by postulating merely a mystery—an unknowable.
Is Life Worth Living?|William Hurrell Mallock

"If you are postulating a linear progression from the old social sciences—forget it," Neel said.
The K-Factor|Harry Harrison (AKA Henry Maxwell Dempsey)

British Dictionary definitions for postulate

postulate

verb (ˈpɒstjʊˌleɪt) (tr; may take a clause as object)

to assume to be true or existent; take for granted

to ask, demand, or claim

to nominate (a person) to a post or office subject to approval by a higher authority

noun (ˈpɒstjʊlɪt)

something taken as self-evident or assumed as the basis of an argument

a necessary condition or prerequisite

a fundamental principle

logic maths an unproved and indemonstrable statement that should be taken for granted: used as an initial premise or underlying hypothesis in a process of reasoning

Derived forms of postulate

postulation, noun

Word Origin for postulate

C16: from Latin postulāre to ask for, require; related to pōscere to request

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

Scientific definitions for postulate

postulate

[ pŏs′chə-lĭt ]

See axiom.

Cultural definitions for postulate

postulate

A statement accepted as true for the purposes of argument or scientific investigation; also, a basic principle. (See axiom.)

postulate

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Origin of postulate

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How to use postulate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for postulate

Derived forms of postulate

Word Origin for postulate

Scientific definitions for postulate

Cultural definitions for postulate

postulate

OTHER WORDS FOR postulate

Origin of postulate

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How to use postulate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for postulate

Derived forms of postulate

Word Origin for postulate

Scientific definitions for postulate

Cultural definitions for postulate