A statement of what a word or expression means

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Definition

1. a statement of what a word or expression means

2. the clear edges or shape that something has that make it easy to see

View the full definition in the Macmillan Dictionary.

Origin and usage

The noun definition comes from Latin via Old French and was first recorded in English in the late 14th century. It was first used to mean the explanation of a word or phrase in the mid 16th century.

Examples

Today is Dictionary Day in the US, an annual celebration of the work of Noah Webster, the undisputed father of American lexicography. Webster was born on October 16 1758 in Connecticut and graduated from Yale College in 1778. After training as a lawyer Webster turned to education and the writing of educational books, including spelling books. Webster published his first dictionary in 1806 and his ‘American Dictionary of the English Language’ in 1828. Webster was a champion of spelling reform and his works helped to popularize what he regarded as the rational spellings that continue to distinguish American from British English today. Definitions are at the heart of a monolingual dictionary, and many of Webster’s definitions read as well today as when they were first published over 200 years ago.

Quotations

“As nothing can be proved but by supposing something intuitively known, and evident without proof, so nothing can be defined but by the use of words too plain to admit a definition.”
(Samuel Johnson, Preface to Dictionary of the English Language, 1755)

Definition: In lexicography, an explanation of the signification of a word or term, or of what a word is understood to express.”
(Noah Webster, American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828)

Related words

example, headword, lemma, lexicon

Browse related words in the Macmillan Thesaurus.

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About the author

Liz Potter

Liz Potter

Active vocabulary

Ex.1 p.10

To consider– полагать, считать; обдумывать;
рассматривать, обсуждать

Considerable– значительный,
важный, существенный; большой

Consideration– размышление,
обсуждение, рассмотрение, разбор

To take into
consideration
– принимать
во внимание

Text p.10

Decent– подходящий;
приличный, благопристойный

Decency– благопристойность,
приличие; вежливость

To observe the decencies
соблюдать приличия, правила хорошего
тона

To define– определять (напр. значение слова),
давать определение (какому-либо понятию)

Definition– определение,
формулирование, дефиниция

To give
definitionto
sth – дать
определение

Irrelevant– неуместный,
неподходящий, не относящийся к делу

Relevant
релевантный, значимый, существенный,
важный

Pride — гордость

To take pride in
sth
– гордиться
чем-либо

To pride
oneself on
– хвастаться

Proud — гордый

To be proud of
sth
– гордиться
чем-либо

To be
(
too) proud
to do
sth– быть (слишком)
гордым, чтобы что-либо сделать

To replace smth
by/
with
sth else
– заменять,
замещать

Ex.2
p.11

Word
combinations

To stand for
– означать, обозначать

Vocabulary exercises

Ex.5 Read the following definitions and match
them with active words and expressions.

  1. A statement of what a word or expression means.

  2. To get rid of someone or something and put a new person or thing in
    their place.

  3. Careful thought before making a decision or judgment about
    something.

  4. A feeling of pleasure and satisfaction that you get when you, or
    someone connected with you, have achieved something special; a
    feeling of respect for yourself; a feeling that you are better or
    more important than other people.

  5. Behaviour that is moral, good, or reasonable.

  6. Large in size, amount, or degree.

  7. To describe clearly and exactly what something is; to explain the
    meaning of a word.

  8. Not important or not relating to what you are discussing or doing.

  1. consideration

  2. considerable

  3. definition

  4. to define

  5. decency

  6. irrelevant

  7. pride

  8. to replace

Ex.6 Replace the words in italics using your
active vocabulary.

  1. I can’t answer right now. I need to
    think over
    all points.

  2. Can you give me a clear explanation
    of this notion?

  3. What does this abbreviation mean?

  4. The keeping of the proprietiesis as indispensable as clean
    linen.

  5. The duties of the post are difficult to describe.

  6. To tell the truth your information is not
    important
    .

  7. Kevin is very
    pleased with
    his ability to deal with
    different people without any problems.

  8. Remember that your behaviour must be appropriate,
    otherwise your reputation will be seriously damaged.

  9. Beckham limped off with an injured ankle and was
    substituted
    by Fowler.

  10. I’m glad
    to be British.

Ex.7 Fill in the gaps with active words and
expressions.

Decent, decency, proud, to take pride in, to
pride oneself on, to replace, irrelevant, pride, to consider,
consideration, considerable, to define, definition, to stand for

  1. The letters ERM _______________Exchange-Rate Mechanism.

  2. All the craftsmen _____ great ___________ in their work.

  3. After such rudeness, the chairman should do the ________________
    thing and apologize publicly.

  4. The original date of the translation is _______________ to its value
    as a historical source.

  5. The candidate’s experience must be taken into __________________.

  6. The computers are out-of-date and require to be __________________.

  7. Manual work is broadly _______________ as work that you do with your
    hands.

  8. We __________________on the quality and thoroughness of our work.

  9. He spent a _____________ amount of time looking for all necessary
    things.

  10. You could see the ______________ in their faces when they talked
    about their daughter’s acting career.

  11. If he had to smoke in her flat, he could at least have the
    ________________ to empty the ashtray.

  12. I’m ______________ to say that we made the right decision.

  13. We’ll have to ________________ all the furniture that was damaged
    in the flood.

  14. The _______________ of ‘family’ has changed over the years.

  15. He _________________ whether to accept another job offer.

Ex.8 Translate the following sentences using
your active vocabulary.

  1. Каждый человек гордитсятем, что
    он гражданин своей страны.

  2. Дайте, пожалуйста,определениеслову «воображение».

  3. Когда вы принимаете важное решение,
    тщательно рассмотритевсе его
    положительные и отрицательные стороны.

  4. – Что обозначаетаббревиатура МГУ?
    – МГУзначит«Московский
    государственный университет».

  5. – Такие молодые девушки, как Вы, Скарлетт,
    всегда и везде соблюдают правила
    хорошего тона
    !

  6. Вся та информация, которую вы только
    что предоставили, к делу не относится.

  7. Родители Джейн очень гордятсяуспехами своей дочери в научной
    деятельности.

  8. У нас снова сломался компьютер! Мы давно
    хотим заменитьвсе оборудование в
    офисе на новое, но у компании сейчас
    нет денег.

  9. Мы уже скопили большую сумму денег
    на ремонт в квартире.

  10. –Есть ли в этом городе какой-нибудь
    приличныйрыбный ресторан? –
    По-моему, в центре есть один.

  11. Что такое счастье? Многие уже пытались
    датьэтому словуопределение,
    и каждый понимает счастье по-своему.

  12. – Вы знаете семью Морстонов? – Да, это
    очень приличнаясемья.

  13. У тебя совсем нет чувства приличия!
    Подумай, что ты говоришь!

  14. Чтобы защитить окружающую среду, многие
    страны в настоящее время заменяюттрадиционные источников энергии на
    альтернативные.

  15. Мы всегда принимаем во вниманиевсе детали, чтобы успешно решить любую
    проблему.

  16. Мэри может похвастатьсясвоим
    умением сохранять спокойствие, когда
    внезапно возникают трудности.

  17. Я убежден, что твои сведения к делу
    относятся
    .

  18. Джейн Остин является автором замечательных
    романов, таких как «Гордостьи
    предубеждение» и многих других.

  19. Никто не может дать определениеслову «любовь».

  20. Она знает, что проиграла, но она слишком
    горда, чтобы признать это.

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Category Definition
1. Manufac-turing-based “ Quality means conformance to requirements.” Phillip B. Crosby
“Quality is the degree to which a specific product conforms to a design or specification.” Harold L. Gilmore

2. Customer-based “Quality is fitness for use.” J. M. Juran
Quality is meeting customer expectations. The Quality Improvement Process is a set of principles, policies, support structures, and practices designed to continually improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our way of life. AT&T
“You achieve customer satisfaction when you sell merchandise that doesn’t come back and a customer who does.” Stanley Marcus
3. Product-based “Differences in quality amount to differences in the quantity of some desired ingredient or attribute.” Lawrence Abbott
“Quality refers to the amount of the unpriced attribute contained in each unit of the priced attribute.” Keith B.Leffler
4. Value-based “Quality is the degree of excellence at an acceptable price and the control of variability at an acceptable cost.” Robert A. Broh
“Quality means best for certain customer conditions. These conditions are (a) the actual use and (b) the selling price of the product.” Armand v. Feigenbaum
5. Transcen-dent “Quality is neither mind nor matter, but a third entity independent of the other two … even though Quality cannot be defined, you know what it is.” Robert Pirsig
“A condition of excellence implying fine quality as distinct from poor quality… Quality is achieving or reaching the highest standard as against being satisfied with the sloppy or fraudulent.” Barbara W. Tuchman

2 Read the text again and find information to answer the questions.

1. What is quality from the philosophical point of view?

2. What two types of qualities does Aristotle differentiate?

3. What is the difference between primary and secondary qualities according to J. Locke?

4. What does quality mean in common use?

5. Why is quality a difficult term to define from technical and economic standpoint?

6. What is the most frequently used definition of quality in business and economics?

7. What are typical quality characteristics of goods and services?

8. Why is market research needed?

9. How can a total quality organisation be achieved?

10. What two common functions within an organisation are used to improve quality?

VOCABULARY PRACTICE

1 Refer back to the text and match a line in A with a line in B to define English-Russian equivalents.

A B
1 quality assurance a пригодность для использования
2 quality control b обнаружение недостатков
3 prevention of defects c в зависимости от обстоятельств и
восприятий
4 detection of defects d совершенство
5 intrinsic to an object e контроль качества
6 fitness for use f подробное описание качества
7 depending upon circumstances
and perceptions
g обеспечение (гарантия) качества
8 excellence h предупреждение дефектов
9 specification of quality i совокупность свойств
10 totality of features j эффективность затрат
11 cost effectiveness k присущий объекту
12 stated needs of customers l структуры материального
обеспечения
13 implied needs of customers m предполагаемые нужды
потребителей
14 conformance to requirements n установленные потребности
потребителей
15 support structures o соответствие требованиям

2 Look back in the text and find the words which have a similar meaning to:

a a distinguishing characteristic, property, or attribute (1)

b a condition of time, place, etc., that accompanies or influences an event (3)

c a statement of what a word or expression means (3)

d a very large number of people or things(3)

e help and advice given to customers in a shop, hotel, or business (4)

f a person or company that buys goods or services (5)

g the detailed study of something in order to discover new facts, especially in a university or scientific institution (5)



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a statement of what a word or expression means


Adjectives frequently used with definition


clear: clearHer book provides clear definitions of the terms used in this field.general: broad, general, widestrict or precise: exact, narrow, precise, rigorous, strictThe insurance policy refers to ‘exceptional circumstances’, but does not give a precise definition.official or legal: formal, legal, official, statutoryThe new law will propose a statutory definition of the term ‘racial hatred’.scientific or technical: clinical, mathematical, scientific, technicalWhat is the mathematical definition of ‘probability’?


Verbs frequently used with definition


change a definition: alter, amend, change, modify, refine, revise, updateThe government changed the definition of joblessness many times in order to massage the unemployment figures.make a definition less precise: broaden, expand, extend, widenHe broadens the definition of ‘terrorism’ to include any action that has an ‘economic impact’.make a definition more precise: narrow, tightenWe have tightened the definition of training to exclude inductions and workplace briefings.accept or agree a definition: accept, agreeWould you accept this definition of poverty?give a definition: give, offer, propose, provideMy dictionary gives the definition of ‘churlish’ as ‘boorish or vulgar’.use a definition: adopt, useThe course adopts a broad definition of the term ‘second language education’.produce a definition: establish, formulate, writeOur definition of an underdeveloped country is based on the definition formulated by the United Nations.match or fit a definition: fit, fulfil, satisfyIf a person satisfies the definition of an employee, he or she is entitled to certain benefits.

sound: boring and unpleasant because not changing

Synonyms:

tuneless

harsh

jarring

brittle

tinny

scratchy

piercing

brassyboring

dull

tedious

uninteresting

humdrum

uninspired

unexciting

dreary

mind-numbing

tired

anodyne

arid

(as) dull as dishwater​/​ditchwater

banal

barren

bland

colorless

colourless

dead

deadly

derivative

dispiriting

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