d]
| 1. | a procedure, technique, or way of doing something, esp. in accordance with a definite plan: There are three possible methods of repairing this motor. |
| 2. | a manner or mode of procedure, esp. an orderly, logical, or systematic way of instruction, inquiry, investigation, experiment, presentation, etc.: the empirical method of inquiry. |
| 3. | order or system in doing anything: to work with method. |
| 4. | orderly or systematic arrangement, sequence, or the like. |
| 5. | the Method. Also called Stanislavski Method, Stanislavski System. a theory and technique of acting in which the performer identifies with the character to be portrayed and renders the part in a naturalistic, nondeclamatory, and highly individualized manner. |
| 6. | (usually initial capital letter ) of, pertaining to, or employing the Method: a Method actor; Method acting. |

meth·od (měth'əd) n.
[Middle English, medical procedure, from Latin methodus, method, from Greek methodos, pursuit, method : meta-, beyond, after; see meta- + hodos, way, journey.] Synonyms: These nouns refer to the plans or procedures followed to accomplish a task or attain a goal. Method implies a detailed, logically ordered plan: "I do not know of a better method for choosing a presidential nominee" (Harry S. Truman). |
method meth·od (měth'əd)
n.
A means or manner of procedure, especially a regular and systematic way of accomplishing something.
Orderly arrangement of parts or steps to accomplish an end.
The procedures and techniques characteristic of a particular discipline or field of knowledge.
method programming
The name given in Smalltalk and other object-oriented languages to a procedure or routine associated with one or more classes. An object of a certain class knows how to perform actions, e.g. printing itself or creating a new instance of itself, rather than the function (e.g. printing) knowing how to handle different types of object.
Different classes may define methods with the same name (i.e. methods may be polymorphic). The term "method" is used both for a named operation, e.g. "PRINT" and also for the code which a specific class provides to perform tha t operation.
Most methods operate on objects that are instances of a certain class. Some object-oriented languages call these "object methods" to distinguish then from "class methods".
In Smalltalk, a method is defined by giving its name, documentation, temporary local variables and a sequence of expressions separated by "."s.
(2000-03-22)