function
the kind of action or activity proper to a person, thing, or institution; the purpose for which something is designed or exists; role.
any ceremonious public or social gathering or occasion.
a factor related to or dependent upon other factors: Price is a function of supply and demand.
Mathematics.
Also called correspondence, map, mapping, transformation. a relation between two sets in which one element of the second set is assigned to each element of the first set, as the expression y = x2; operator.
Also called mul·ti·ple-val·ue func·tion [muhl-tuh-puhl-val-yoo fuhngk-shuhn]. /ˈmʌl tə pəlˈvæl yu ˈfʌŋk ʃən/. a relation between two sets in which two or more elements of the second set are assigned to each element of the first set, as y2 = x2, which assigns to every x the two values y = +x and y = −x.
a set of ordered pairs in which none of the first elements of the pairs appears twice.
a relationship in which an input value of a variable has a specifically calculated output value: for example, if the function of x is x2, the output will always be the square of whatever the value of x is. Abbreviations: f, F
Geometry.
a formula expressing a relation between the angles of a triangle and its sides, as sine or cosine.
Grammar.
the grammatical role a linguistic form has or the position it occupies in a particular construction.
the grammatical roles or the positions of a linguistic form or form class collectively.
Sociology. the contribution made by a sociocultural phenomenon to an ongoing social system.
to perform a specified action or activity; work; operate: The computer isn't functioning now. He rarely functions before noon.
to have or exercise a function; serve: In earlier English the present tense often functioned as a future. This orange crate can function as a chair.
Origin of function
1Other words from function
- in·ter·func·tion, adjective
- mul·ti·func·tion, adjective
- non·func·tion·ing, adjective
- o·ver·func·tion·ing, adjective
- pre·func·tion, noun
- re·func·tion, verb (used without object)
- sub·func·tion, noun
- su·per·func·tion, noun
- un·func·tion·ing, adjective
- well-func·tion·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
British Dictionary definitions for function
/ (ˈfʌŋkʃən) /
the natural action or intended purpose of a person or thing in a specific role: the function of a hammer is to hit nails into wood
an official or formal social gathering or ceremony
a factor dependent upon another or other factors: the length of the flight is a function of the weather
Also called: map, mapping maths logic a relation between two sets that associates a unique element (the value) of the second (the range) with each element (the argument) of the first (the domain): a many-one relation. Symbol: f(x) The value of f(x) for x = 2 is f(2)
to operate or perform as specified; work properly
(foll by as) to perform the action or role (of something or someone else): a coin may function as a screwdriver
Origin of function
1Derived forms of function
- functionless, adjective
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 function
[ fŭngk′shən ]
A relationship between two sets that matches each member of the first set with a unique member of the second set. Functions are often expressed as an equation, such as y = x + 5, meaning that y is a function of x such that for any value of x, the value of y will be 5 greater than x.
A quantity whose value depends on the value given to one or more related quantities. For example, the area of a square is a function of the length of its sides.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Cultural definitions for function
In mathematics, a quantity whose value is determined by the value of some other quantity. For example, “The yield of this field is a function of the amount of fertilizer applied” means that a given amount of fertilizer will yield an amount of whatever crop is growing.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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