determine definition | Dictionary.com

de⋅ter⋅mine

[di-tur-min]

verb, -mined, -min⋅ing.

–verb (used with object)

1.	to settle or decide (a dispute, question, etc.) by an authoritative or conclusive decision.

2.	to conclude or ascertain, as after reasoning, observation, etc.

3.	Geometry. to fix the position of.

4.	to cause, affect, or control; fix or decide causally: Demand for a product usually determines supply.

5.	to give direction or tendency to; impel.

6.	Logic. to limit (a notion) by adding differentiating characteristics.

7.	Chiefly Law. to put an end to; terminate.

8.	to lead or bring (a person) to a decision.

9.	to decide upon.

–verb (used without object)

10.	to come to a decision or resolution; decide.

11.	Chiefly Law. to come to an end.

Origin:
1325–75; ME determinen < AF, OF determiner < L dētermināre, equiv. to dē- de- + termināre to bound, limit; see terminate

Synonyms:
1. resolve, adjust. See decide. 2. verify. 4. influence. 5. induce, lead, incline.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source

Link To determine

de·ter·mine (dĭ-tûr'mĭn)

v. de·ter·mined, de·ter·min·ing, de·ter·mines

v. tr.

1. To decide or settle (a dispute, for example) conclusively and authoritatively.
2. To end or decide, as by judicial action.
To establish or ascertain definitely, as after consideration, investigation, or calculation. See Synonyms at discover.
To cause (someone) to come to a conclusion or resolution.
To be the cause of; regulate: Demand determines production.
To give direction to: The management committee determines departmental policy.
To limit in scope or extent.
Mathematics To fix or define the position, form, or configuration of.
Logic To explain or limit by adding differences.
Law To put an end to; terminate.

v. intr.

To reach a decision; resolve. See Synonyms at decide.
Law To come to an end.

[Middle English determinen, from Old French determiner, from Latin dētermināre, to limit : dē-, de- + terminus, boundary.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Determine

De*ter"mine\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Determined; p. pr. & vb. n. Determining.] [F. d['e]terminer, L. determinare, determinatum; de + terminare limit, terminus limit. See Term.]

1. To fix the boundaries of; to mark off and separate.

[God] hath determined the times before appointed. --Acts xvii. 26.

2. To set bounds to; to fix the determination of; to limit; to bound; to bring to an end; to finish.

The knowledge of men hitherto hath been determined by the view or sight. --Bacon.

Now, where is he that will not stay so long Till his friend sickness hath determined me? --Shak.

3. To fix the form or character of; to shape; to prescribe imperatively; to regulate; to settle.

The character of the soul is determined by the character of its God. --J. Edwards.

Something divinely beautiful . . . that at some time or other might influence or even determine her course of life. --W. Black.

4. To fix the course of; to impel and direct; -- with a remoter object preceded by to; as, another's will determined me to this course.

5. To ascertain definitely; to find out the specific character or name of; to assign to its true place in a system; as, to determine an unknown or a newly discovered plant or its name.

6. To bring to a conclusion, as a question or controversy; to settle authoritative or judicial sentence; to decide; as, the court has determined the cause.

7. To resolve on; to have a fixed intention of; also, to cause to come to a conclusion or decision; to lead; as, this determined him to go immediately.

8. (Logic) To define or limit by adding a differentia.

9. (Physical Sciences) To ascertain the presence, quantity, or amount of; as, to determine the parallax; to determine the salt in sea water.

Determine

De*ter"mine\, v. i. 1. To come to an end; to end; to terminate. [Obs.]

He who has vented a pernicious doctrine or published an ill book must know that his life determine not together. --South.

Estates may determine on future contingencies. --Blackstone.

2. To come to a decision; to decide; to resolve; -- often with on. "Determine on some course." --Shak.

He shall pay as the judges determine. --Ex. xxi. 22.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Cite This Source

Language Translation for : determine

Spanish: determinar, decidir,

German: bestimmen,

Japanese: 決定する

More Translations »

determine

c.1374, "to come to an end," also "to settle, decide," from O.Fr. determiner (12c.), from L. determinare "set limits to," from de- "off" + terminare "to mark the end or boundary," from terminus "end, limit." Sense of "coming to a firm decision" (to do something) is from 1450. Determination "quality of being resolute" is from 1822. Determinism is 1846 in theology (lack of free will); 1876 in general sense of "the doctrine that everything that happens is determined by a necessary chain of causation."

Main Entry: de·ter·mine
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: -mined; -min·ing
: to make a determination regarding

Main Entry: de·ter·mine
Pronunciation: di-'t&r-m&n
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: de·ter·mined;de·ter·min·ing /-'t&rm-(&-)ni[ng]/
1 a : to obtain definite information about with regard to quantity, character, magnitude, orlocation <determine the ionic concentration> <determine the creatinine in blood serum> b : to discover the taxonomic position or the generic and specificnames of
2 : to bring about the determination of <determine the fate of a cell>

determine

see bound and determined.

Search another word or see determine on Thesaurus | Reference

Personalized Bank Checks
Great Savings for Every Style of Personal Bank Checks. Order Online!

SamsClubChecks.com

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Advertise with Us · Link to Us · NASCAR® · Contact Us