function

[ fuhngk-shuhn ]

/ ˈfʌŋk ʃən /

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See synonyms for: function / functioned / functioning / functions on Thesaurus.com

noun

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 multiple-value function. 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.

Geometry.

a formula expressing a relation between the angles of a triangle and its sides, as sine or cosine.
hyperbolic function.

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.

verb (used without object)

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.

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"Is" it time for a new quiz? "Are" you ready? Then prove your excellent skills on using "is" vs. "are."

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IS and ARE are both forms of which verb?

have

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Origin of function

1525–35; <Latin functiōn- (stem of functiō) a performance, execution, equivalent to funct(us) (past participle of fungī) performed, executed + -iōn--ion

OTHER WORDS FROM function

in·ter·func·tion, adjectivemul·ti·func·tion, adjectivenon·func·tion·ing, adjectiveo·ver·func·tion·ing, adjective

pre·func·tion, nounre·func·tion, verb (used without object)sub·func·tion, nounsu·per·func·tion, nounun·func·tion·ing, adjectivewell-func·tion·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use function in a sentence

“One-third of South Asians and more than half of all Sub-Saharan Africans suffer from malnutrition or undernutrition,” he writes.
The History of the Chicken: How This Humble Bird Saved Humanity|William O’Connor|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But the copper performs another important function: working as a catalyst in the distillation process.
When It Comes to Great Whisky, The Size of Your Still Matters||December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The iPad was an even bigger hit, especially as it had a new function that allowed him to play the drawing back.
The Many Lives of Artist David Hockney|William O’Connor|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
About one in three girls in sub-Saharan Africa experience sexual violence before turning 18.
To End HIV, Stop Violence Against Adolescent Girls|Michele Moloney-Kitts|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST

This fate is unfortunately not rare for girls, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.
To End HIV, Stop Violence Against Adolescent Girls|Michele Moloney-Kitts|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To prevent intruders or extruders from withdrawing his mind from the text, he exercises the Inhibitory function of the Attention.
Assimilative Memory|Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
Little girls perhaps represent the attractive function of adornment: they like to be thought pretty.
Children's Ways|James Sully
Habet Rimbegui ostia sua sub gradu quadragesimo tertio cum besse.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
This is hardly a function—parties even in the big political country-houses are more or less informal.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
Lannes enlisted in the second battalion of the volunteers of Gers, and was at once elected sub-lieutenant by his fellow-citizens.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison

British Dictionary definitions for function

function

/ (ˈfʌŋkʃən) /

noun

the natural action or intended purpose of a person or thing in a specific rolethe 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 factorsthe 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)

verb (intr)

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

Derived forms of function

functionless, adjective

Word Origin for function

C16: from Latin functiō, from fungī to perform, discharge

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

Medical definitions for function

function

[ fŭngk′shən ]

The physiological property or the special action of an organ or body part.

Something closely related to another thing and dependent on it for its existence, value, or significance, such as growth resulting from nutrition.

A mathematical variable so related to another that for each value assumed by one there is a value determined for the other.

A rule of correspondence between two sets such that there is a unique element in the second set assigned to each element in the first set.

The general properties of a substance, depending on its chemical character and relation to other substances, that provide the basis upon which it may be grouped as among acids or bases.

A particular reactive grouping in a molecule.

Scientific definitions for function

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.

Cultural definitions for function

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.

function

Origin of function

OTHER WORDS FROM function

Words related to function

How to use function in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for function

Derived forms of function

Word Origin for function

Medical definitions for function

Scientific definitions for function

Cultural definitions for function