ideal
Use Ideal in a sentence
əl, aɪˈdil noun
1.
a conception of something in its perfection.
2.
a standard of perfection or excellence.
3.
a person or thing conceived as embodying such a conception or conforming to such a standard, and taken as a model for imitation: Thomas Jefferson was his ideal.
4.
5.
something that exists only in the imagination: To achieve the ideal is almost hopeless.
6.
Mathematics. a subring of a ring, any element of which when multiplied by any element of the ring results in an element of the subring.
adjective
7.
conceived as constituting a standard of perfection or excellence: ideal beauty.
8.
regarded as perfect of its kind: an ideal spot for a home.
9.
existing only in the imagination; not real or actual: Nature is real; beauty is ideal.
10.
advantageous; excellent; best: It would be ideal if she could accompany us as she knows the way.
11.
based upon an ideal or ideals: the ideal theory of numbers.
00:10
Ideal
is always a great word to know.
So is function. Does it mean:
| a number or quantity placed before and multiplying another quantity, such as 3 in the expression 3x |
| a relation between two sets in which one element of the second set is assigned to each element of the first set, the operator |
Related forms
i·de·al·ness, noun
qua·si-i·de·al, adjective
qua·si-i·de·al·ly, adverb
sub·i·de·al, adjective, noun
su·per·i·de·al, adjective, noun
Synonyms
1, 2. epitome. Ideal, example, model refer to something considered as a standard to strive toward or something considered worthy of imitation. An ideal is a concept or standard of perfection, existing merely as an image in the mind, or based upon a person or upon conduct: We admire the high ideals of a religious person. Sir Philip Sidney was considered the ideal in gentlemanly conduct. An example is a person or the conduct or achievements of a person regarded as worthy of being followed or imitated in a general way; or sometimes, as properly to be avoided: an example of courage; a bad example to one's children. A model is primarily a physical shape to be closely copied, but is also a pattern for exact imitation in conduct or character: They took their leader as a model. 4. intention, objective. 7. perfect, consummate, complete. 9. illusory, imaginary, fanciful, fantastic.
1, 2. epitome. Ideal, example, model refer to something considered as a standard to strive toward or something considered worthy of imitation. An ideal is a concept or standard of perfection, existing merely as an image in the mind, or based upon a person or upon conduct: We admire the high ideals of a religious person. Sir Philip Sidney was considered the ideal in gentlemanly conduct. An example is a person or the conduct or achievements of a person regarded as worthy of being followed or imitated in a general way; or sometimes, as properly to be avoided: an example of courage; a bad example to one's children. A model is primarily a physical shape to be closely copied, but is also a pattern for exact imitation in conduct or character: They took their leader as a model. 4. intention, objective. 7. perfect, consummate, complete. 9. illusory, imaginary, fanciful, fantastic.
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
|
Link To ideal
Collins
World English Dictionary
ideal (aɪˈdɪəl) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a conception of something that is perfect, esp that which one seeks to attain |
| 2. | a person or thing considered to represent perfection: he's her ideal |
| 3. | something existing only as an idea |
| 4. | a pattern or model, esp of ethical behaviour |
| —adj | |
| 5. | conforming to an ideal |
| 6. | of, involving, or existing in the form of an idea |
| 7. | philosophy |
| a. of or relating to a highly desirable and possible state of affairs | |
| b. of or relating to idealism | |
| ideality | |
| —n | |
| i'deally | |
| —adv | |
| i'dealness | |
| —n | |
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
ideal
1410, from L.L. idealis "existing in idea," from L. idea in the Platonic sense (see idea). Sense of "perfect" first recorded 1613. The noun meaning "perfect person or thing" is first recorded 1796 in a translation of Kant. The abstract idealism, also from 1796, originally meant
"belief that reality is made up only of ideas." Idealist "one who represents things in an ideal form" is from 1829, as is idealistic. Ideally "in the best conceivable situation" is from 1840. Idée fixe (1836) is from Fr., lit. "fixed idea."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
ideal i·de·al (ī-dē'əl, ī-dēl')
n.
A conception of something in its absolute perfection.
One that is regarded as a standard or model of perfection or excellence.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
FOLDOC
Computing Dictionary
IDEAL definition
1. Ideal DEductive Applicative Language. A language by Pier Bosco and Elio Giovannetti combining Miranda and Prolog. Function definitions can have a guard condition (introduced by ":-") which is a conjunction of equalities between arbitrary terms, including functions. These guards are solved by normal Prolog resolution and unification. It was originally compiled into C-Prolog but was eventually to be compiled to K-leaf.
2. A numerical constraint language written by Van Wyk of Stanford in 1980 for typesetting graphics in documents. It was inspired partly by Metafont and is distributed as part of Troff.
["A High-Level Language for Specifying Pictures", C.J. Van Wyk, ACM Trans Graphics 1(2):163-182 (Apr 1982)].
(1994-12-15)
ideal definition
theoryIn domain theory, a non-empty, downward closed subset which is also closed under binary least upper bounds. I.e. anything less than an element is also an element and the least upper bound of any two elements is also an element.
(1997-09-26)
Example sentences
It would be ideal if students could draw their diagrams on large pieces of construction paper.
Items in the special collections require meticulous care and attention, and storage at the ideal temperature and humidity.
On the other hand, a skin is ideal because a deformation can be detected wherever it happens.
For many years it was acknowledged that this was not an ideal way to allocate a company's scarce financial resources.
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