constraint
Use Constraint in a sentence
noun
1.
limitation or restriction.
2.
repression of natural feelings and impulses: to practice constraint.
3.
unnatural restraint in manner, conversation, etc.; embarrassment.
4.
something that constrains.
5.
the act of constraining.
6.
the condition of being constrained.
7.
Linguistics. a restriction on the operation of a linguistic rule or the occurrence of a linguistic construction.
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English constreinte < Middle French, noun use of feminine past participle of constreindre; see constrain
1350–1400; Middle English constreinte < Middle French, noun use of feminine past participle of constreindre; see constrain
Related forms
non·con·straint, noun
Synonyms
1. force, obligation, pressure.
1. force, obligation, pressure.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To constraint
00:10
Constraint
is always a great word to know.
So is asterisk. Does it mean:
| to differ in a way that can serve to distinguish meanings: The sounds (p) and (b) contrast in the words ?pin? and ?bin? |
| a star (*) used to mark utterance that would be considered ungrammatical or otherwise unacceptable by native speakers of a language |
Collins
World English Dictionary
constraint (kənˈstreɪnt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | compulsion, force, or restraint |
| 2. | repression or control of natural feelings or impulses |
| 3. | a forced unnatural manner; inhibition |
| 4. | something that serves to constrain; restrictive condition: social constraints kept him silent |
| 5. | linguistics any very general restriction on a sentence formation rule |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
constraint
late 14c., "distress, oppression," from O.Fr. constreinte (Mod.Fr. contrainte), fem. noun from constreint, pp. of constreindre, from V.L. *constrinctus, from L. constrictus (see constrain). Meaning "coercion, compulsion" is from 1530s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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FOLDOC
Computing Dictionary
constraint definition
programming, mathematicsA Boolean relation, often an equality or ineqality relation, between the values of one or more mathematical variables (often two). E.g. x>3 is a constraint on x. constraint satisfaction attempts to assign values to variables so that all constraints are true.
Usenet newsgroup: news:comp.constraints. FAQ (http://cs.unh.edu/ccc/archive/).
(2002-06-08)
Example sentences
When the government invests, there is no such constraint and money ends up being squandered.
And distribution remains the severest constraint of all.
It's a great moment to be watching movies, and this year a ten-best list would be an absurd constraint.
One of the hardest things about writing the column, as opposed to blogging, is the length constraint.
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