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universal
[ yoo-nuh-vur-suhl ]
adjective
- of, relating to, or characteristic of all or the whole:
universal experience.
- applicable everywhere or in all cases; general:
a universal cure.
- affecting, concerning, or involving all:
universal military service.
- used or understood by all:
a universal language.
- present everywhere:
the universal calm of southern seas.
- versed in or embracing many or all skills, branches of learning, etc.:
Leonardo da Vinci was a universal genius.
- of or relating to the universe, all nature, or all existing things:
universal cause.
- characterizing all or most members of a class; generic.
- Logic. (of a proposition) asserted of every member of a class.
- Linguistics. found in all languages or belonging to the human language faculty.
- Machinery. noting any of various machines, tools, or devices widely adaptable in position, range of use, etc.
- Metalworking.
- (of metal plates and shapes) rolled in a universal mill.
- (of a rolling mill or rolling method) having or employing vertical edging rolls.
noun
- something that may be applied throughout the universe to many things, usually thought of as an entity that can be in many places at the same time.
- a trait, characteristic, or property, as distinguished from a particular individual or event, that can be possessed in common, as the care of a mother for her young.
- Logic. a universal proposition.
- Philosophy.
- a general term or concept or the generic nature that such a term signifies; a Platonic idea or Aristotelian form.
- an entity that remains unchanged in character in a series of changes or changing relations.
- Hegelianism. concrete universal.
- Machinery. universal joint.
universal
/ ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsəl /
adjective
- of, relating to, or typical of the whole of mankind or of nature
- common to, involving, or proceeding from all in a particular group
- applicable to or affecting many individuals, conditions, or cases; general
- existing or prevailing everywhere
- applicable or occurring throughout or relating to the universe; cosmic
a universal constant
- (esp of a language) capable of being used and understood by all
- embracing or versed in many fields of knowledge, activity, interest, etc
- machinery designed or adapted for a range of sizes, fittings, or uses
- linguistics (of a constraint in a formal grammar) common to the grammatical description of all human languages, actual or possible
- logic (of a statement or proposition) affirming or denying something about every member of a class, as in all men are wicked Compare particular
noun
- philosophy
- a general term or concept or the type such a term signifies
- a metaphysical entity taken to be the reference of a general term, as distinct from the class of individuals it describes See also realism
- a Platonic Idea or Aristotelian form
- logic
- a universal proposition, statement, or formula
- a universal quantifier
- a characteristic common to every member of a particular culture or to every human being
- short for universal joint
Usage
Derived Forms
- ˌuniˈversalness, noun
Other Words From
- uni·versal·ness noun
- nonu·ni·versal adjective noun
- nonu·ni·versal·ly adverb
- quasi-uni·versal adjective
- quasi-uni·versal·ly adverb
- subu·ni·versal adjective
- super·uni·versal adjective
- super·uni·versal·ly adverb
- super·uni·versal·ness noun
Word History and Origins
Origin of universal1
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
Trafficking in generalities rarely leads to universal truth.
It prevents parents from claiming universal credit or child tax credit for a third child, with a few exemptions.
The three films below prove that great performances, incredible music and a sliver of hope can transcend the weight of universal fear.
In other words, there’s the lack of social support, like universal paid sick leave in the United States, that’s contributing to America’s declining life expectancy.
The team quantified this coupling strength and found that the bacteria's coordinated motion adhered to universal mathematical rules of synchronisation.
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