definition

[ def-uh-nish-uhn ]
See synonyms for definition on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. the act of defining, or of making something definite, distinct, or clear: We need a better definition of her responsibilities.

  2. the formal statement of the meaning or significance of a word, phrase, idiom, etc., as found in dictionaries. An online dictionary resource, such as Dictionary.com, can give users direct, immediate access to the definitions of a term, allowing them to compare definitions from various dictionaries and stay up to date with an ever-expanding vocabulary.

  1. the condition of being definite, distinct, or clearly outlined: His biceps have great muscle definition.

  2. Optics. sharpness of the image formed by an optical system.

  3. Radio and Television. the accuracy of sound or picture reproduction.

Origin of definition

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English diffinicioun, from Old French diffinition, from Latin dēfīnītiōn- (stem of dēfīnītiō ), equivalent to dēfīnīt(us) (see definite) + -iōn- noun suffix (see -ion)

Other words from definition

  • def·i·ni·tion·al, adjective
  • def·i·ni·tion·al·ly, adverb
  • pre·def·i·ni·tion, noun
  • re·def·i·ni·tion, noun
  • self-def·i·ni·tion, noun
  • sub·def·i·ni·tion, noun

Words Nearby definition

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use definition in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for definition

definition

/ (ˌdɛfɪˈnɪʃən) /


noun
  1. a formal and concise statement of the meaning of a word, phrase, etc

  2. the act of defining a word, phrase, etc

  1. specification of the essential properties of something, or of the criteria which uniquely identify it

  2. the act of making clear or definite

  3. the state or condition of being clearly defined or definite

  4. a measure of the clarity of an optical, photographic, or television image as characterized by its sharpness and contrast

Derived forms of definition

  • definitional, adjective

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