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19 dictionary results for: Real

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

re·al1

[ree-uh

l, reel] Pronunciation Key

–adjective

1.	true; not merely ostensible, nominal, or apparent: the real reason for an act.

2.	existing or occurring as fact; actual rather than imaginary, ideal, or fictitious: a story taken from real life.

3.	being an actual thing; having objective existence; not imaginary: The events you will see in the film are real and not just made up.

4.	being actually such; not merely so-called: a real victory.

5.	genuine; not counterfeit, artificial, or imitation; authentic: a real antique; a real diamond; real silk.

6.	unfeigned or sincere: real sympathy; a real friend.

7.	Informal. absolute; complete; utter: She's a real brain.

Philosophy.

a.	existent or pertaining to the existent as opposed to the nonexistent.

b.	actual as opposed to possible or potential.

c.	independent of experience as opposed to phenomenal or apparent.

9.	(of money, income, or the like) measured in purchasing power rather than in nominal value: Inflation has driven income down in real terms, though nominal income appears to be higher.

10.	Optics. (of an image) formed by the actual convergence of rays, as the image produced in a camera (opposed to virtual).

11.

Mathematics.

a.	of, pertaining to, or having the value of a real number.

b.	using real numbers: real analysis; real vector space.

–adverb

12.	Informal. very or extremely: You did a real nice job painting the house.

–noun

13.	real number.

14.

the real,

a.	something that actually exists, as a particular quantity.

b.	reality in general.

—Idiom

15.

for real, Informal.

a.	in reality; actually: You mean she dyed her hair green for real?

b.	real; actual: The company's plans to relocate are for real.

c.	genuine; sincere: I don't believe his friendly attitude is for real.

[Origin: 1400–50; late ME < LL reālis, equiv. to L re-, var. s. of rés thing + -ālis -al¹

]

—Related forms

re·al·ness, noun

—Synonyms 1–5. Real, actual, true in general use describe objects, persons, experiences, etc., that are what they are said or purport to be. That which is described as real is genuine as opposed to counterfeit, false, or merely supposed: a real emerald; real leather binding; My real ambition is to be a dentist. Actual usually stresses contrast with another state of affairs that has been proposed or suggested: The actual cost is much less; to conceal one's actual motive. True implies a perfect correspondence with actuality and is in direct contrast to that which is false or inaccurate: a true account of the events; not bravado but true courage. See also authentic.

—Usage note The intensifying adverb real, meaning “very,” is informal and limited to speech or to written representations of speech: He drives a real beat-up old car. The adjective real meaning “true, actual, genuine, etc.,” is standard in all types of speech and writing: Their real reasons for objecting became clear in the discussion. The informal adjective sense “absolute, complete” is also limited to speech or representations of speech: These interruptions are a real bother.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

real
adjective
1.	being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory; "real objects"; "real people; not ghosts"; "a film based on real life"; "a real illness"; "real humility"; "Life is real! Life is earnest!"- Longfellow [ant: unreal]
2.	no less than what is stated; worthy of the name; "the real reason"; "real war"; "a real friend"; "a real woman"; "meat and potatoes--I call that a real meal"; "it's time he had a real job"; "it's no penny-ante job--he's making real money" [ant: unreal]
3.	not to be taken lightly; "statistics demonstrate that poverty and unemployment are very real problems"; "to the man sleeping regularly in doorways homelessness is real"
4.	capable of being treated as fact; "tangible evidence"; "his brief time as Prime Minister brought few real benefits to the poor"
5.	being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something; "her actual motive"; "a literal solitude like a desert"- G.K.Chesterton; "a genuine dilemma" [syn: actual]
6.	of, relating to, or representing an amount that is corrected for inflation; "real prices"; "real income"; "real wages" [ant: nominal]
7.	having substance or capable of being treated as fact; not imaginary; "the substantial world"; "a mere dream, neither substantial nor practical"; "most ponderous and substantial things"- Shakespeare [syn: substantial] [ant: insubstantial]
8.	(of property) fixed or immovable; "real property consists of land and buildings"
9.	coinciding with reality; "perceptual error...has a surprising resemblance to veridical perception"- F.A.Olafson [syn: veridical]
adverb
1.	used as intensifiers; 'real' is sometimes used informally for 'really'; 'rattling' is informal; "she was very gifted"; "he played very well"; "a really enjoyable evening"; "I'm real sorry about it"; "a rattling good yarn" [syn: very]
noun
1.	any rational or irrational number [syn: real number]
2.	the basic unit of money in Brazil; equal to 100 centavos
3.	an old small silver Spanish coin