func·tion

[fuhngk-shuhn]
noun
1.
the kind of action or activity proper to a person, thing, or institution; the purpose for which something is designed or exists; role.
2.
any ceremonious public or social gathering or occasion.
3.
a factor related to or dependent upon other factors: Price is a function of supply and demand.
4.
Mathematics.
a.
Also called correspondence, map, mapping, transformation. a relation between two sets in which one element of the second set is assigned to each element of the first set, as the expression y = x 2 ; operator.
b.
Also called multiple-value function. a relation between two sets in which two or more elements of the second set are assigned to each element of the first set, as y 2 = x 2 , which assigns to every x the two values y = + x and y = − x.
c.
a set of ordered pairs in which none of the first elements of the pairs appears twice.
5.
Geometry.
a.
a formula expressing a relation between the angles of a triangle and its sides, as sine or cosine.
b.
hyperbolic function.
6.
Grammar.
a.
the grammatical role a linguistic form has or the position it occupies in a particular construction.
b.
the grammatical roles or the positions of a linguistic form or form class collectively.
7.
Sociology. the contribution made by a sociocultural phenomenon to an ongoing social system.
verb (used without object)
8.
to perform a specified action or activity; work; operate: The computer isn't functioning now. He rarely functions before noon.
9.
to have or exercise a function; serve: In earlier English the present tense often functioned as a future. This orange crate can function as a chair.
00:10
Functioning is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.
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Origin:
1525–35; < Latin functiōn- (stem of functiō) a performance, execution, equivalent to funct(us) (past participle of fungī) performed, executed + -iōn- -ion

Related forms
in·ter·func·tion, adjective
mul·ti·func·tion, adjective
non·func·tion·ing, adjective
o·ver·func·tion·ing, adjective
pre·func·tion, noun
re·func·tion, verb (used without object)
sub·func·tion, noun
su·per·func·tion, noun
un·func·tion·ing, adjective
well-func·tion·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
function (ˈfʌŋkʃən) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—n
1.  the natural action or intended purpose of a person or thing in a specific role: the function of a hammer is to hit nails into wood
2.  an official or formal social gathering or ceremony
3.  a factor dependent upon another or other factors: the length of the flight is a function of the weather
4.  maths, logic map, Also called: mapping a relation between two sets that associates a unique element (the value) of the second (the range) with each element (the argument) of the first (the domain): a many-one relation. Symbol: f(x) The value of f(x) for x = 2 is f(2)
 
—vb
5.  to operate or perform as specified; work properly
6.  (foll by as) to perform the action or role (of something or someone else): a coin may function as a screwdriver
 
[C16: from Latin functiō, from fungī to perform, discharge]
 
'functionless
 
—adj

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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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

function
1530s, from M.Fr. fonction, from O.Fr. function, from L. functio (gen. functionis) "performance, execution," from functus, pp. of fungi "perform, execute, discharge." Use in mathematics probably begun by Leibnitz (1692). As a verb, from 1856. Related: Functioned; functioning.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

function func·tion (fŭngk'shən)
n.

  1. The physiological property or the special action of an organ or a body part.

  2. Something closely related to another thing and dependent on it for its existence, value, or significance, such as growth resulting from nutrition.

  3. A mathematical variable so related to another that for each value assumed by one there is a value determined for the other.

  4. A rule of correspondence between two sets such that there is a unique element in the second set assigned to each element in the first set.

  5. The general properties of a substance, depending on its chemical character and relation to other substances, that provide the basis upon which it may be grouped as among acids or bases.

  6. A particular reactive grouping in a molecule.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
function   (fŭngk'shən)  Pronunciation Key 

  1. A relationship between two sets that matches each member of the first set with a unique member of the second set. Functions are often expressed as an equation, such as y = x + 5, meaning that y is a function of x such that for any value of x, the value of y will be 5 greater than x.

  2. A quantity whose value depends on the value given to one or more related quantities. For example, the area of a square is a function of the length of its sides.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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American Heritage
Cultural Dictionary

function definition


In mathematics, a quantity whose value is determined by the value of some other quantity. For example, “The yield of this field is a function of the amount of fertilizer applied” means that a given amount of fertilizer will yield an amount of whatever crop is growing.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Example sentences
Any activity that keeps these visual circuits in better working order may improve overall cognitive functioning.
Selenium is a naturally occurring mineral that in trace amounts is required for the proper functioning of living cells.
Yet a functioning democracy demands maximum accountability and transparency.
When you close the vocal folds, they are essentials functioning as a valve.
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