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in-definite
in·def·i·nite
/
ɪnˈdɛf
ə
nɪt
/
Show Spelled
[
in-
def
-
uh
-nit
]
Show IPA
adjective
1.
not definite; without fixed or specified limit; unlimited:
an indefinite number.
2.
not clearly defined or determined; not precise or exact:
an indefinite boundary; an indefinite date in the future.
3.
Grammar
.
a.
indefinite article
.
b.
indefinite pronoun
.
4.
Botany
.
a.
very numerous or not easily counted, as stamens.
b.
(of an inflorescence) indeterminate.
Origin:
1520–30;
<
Latin
indēfīnītus.
See
in-
3
,
definite
Related forms
in·def·i·nite·ly,
adverb
in·def·i·nite·ness,
noun
Synonyms
1.
unspecified; indeterminate.
2.
imprecise, inexact, indistinct, confusing, vague, uncertain.
Antonyms
1, 2.
determinate.
2.
clear, specific.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To
in-definite
00:10
In-definite
is always a great word to know.
So is
ort
. Does it mean:
So is
ninnyhammer
. Does it mean:
So is
lollapalooza
. Does it mean:
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.
a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
indefinite
(ɪnˈdɛfɪnɪt)
—
adj
1.
not certain or determined; unsettled
2.
without exact limits; indeterminate:
an indefinite number
3.
vague, evasive, or unclear
4.
botany
Also:
indeterminate
a. too numerous to count:
indefinite stamens
b. capable of continued growth at the tip of the stem, which does not terminate in a flower:
an indefinite inflorescence
in'definiteness
—
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
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
indefinite
1530, from L. indefinitus, from in- "not" + definitus (see
define
).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Matching Quote
"Because of the enormous size of the public, television advertisers face problems of a different nature to advertisers in the press or even on posters. The readers of even the most widely circulated newspapers represent only a relatively small section of the population, and quite a number of facts have been accumulated about the interests, prejudices and habits of the readers of different papers; posters are placed in definite localities and the population of that locality, in contrast to other localities in that area, and of the different regions of England can, if necessary, be estimated. But with television, all these sensational calculations disappear; the advertiser is reaching practically the whole population within range of the transmitter. He may well ignore the poorest people, because they are not likely to have a set, and the richest and best educated because (as Dorothy Sayers shrewdly pointed out) they "buy what they want when they want it" and are not likely to be influenced by mass advertisements; but between those two extremes he has to try to please and portray Everyman and Everywoman and, above all, must try to offend none of them."
-Geoffrey Gorer
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Synonyms
indeterminate
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