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situation - 6 dictionary results

sit⋅u⋅a⋅tion

  [sich-oo-ey-shuhn]
Use situation in a Sentence
–noun
1. manner of being situated; location or position with reference to environment: The situation of the house allowed for a beautiful view.
2. a place or locality.
3. condition; case; plight: He is in a desperate situation.
4. the state of affairs; combination of circumstances: The present international situation is dangerous.
5. a position or post of employment; job.
6. a state of affairs of special or critical significance in the course of a play, novel, etc.
7. Sociology. the aggregate of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors acting on an individual or group to condition behavioral patterns.
Origin:
1480–90; < ML situātiōn- (s. of situātiō). See situate, -ion

Related forms:
sit⋅u⋅a⋅tion⋅al, adjective
sit⋅u⋅a⋅tion⋅al⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. site. 4. See state. 5. See position.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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sit·u·a·tion   (sĭch'ōō-ā'shən)   
n.  
    1. The way in which something is positioned vis-à-vis its surroundings.
    2. The place in which something is situated; a location.
  2. Position or status with regard to conditions and circumstances.
  3. The combination of circumstances at a given moment; a state of affairs. See Synonyms at state.
  4. A critical, problematic, or striking set of circumstances.
  5. A position of employment; a post.
sit'u·a'tion·al adj., sit'u·a'tion·al·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Situation

Sit`u*a"tion\, n. [LL. situatio: cf. F. situation.]

1. Manner in which an object is placed; location, esp. as related to something else; position; locality site; as, a house in a pleasant situation.

2. Position, as regards the conditions and circumstances of the case.

A situation of the greatest ease and tranquillity. --Rogers.

3. Relative position; circumstances; temporary state or relation at a moment of action which excites interest, as of persons in a dramatic scene.

There's situation for you! there's an heroic group! --Sheridan.

4. Permanent position or employment; place; office; as, a situation in a store; a situation under government.

Syn: State; position; seat; site; station; post; place; office; condition; case; plight. See State.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : situation
Spanish: situación,
German: die Situation,
Japanese: 状況
More Translations »

situation 
1490, "place, position, or location," from M.L. situationem (nom. situatio), from L.L. situatus, pp. of situare (see situate). Meaning "state of affairs" is from 1750; meaning "employment post" is from 1803. Situation ethics first attested 1955.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: sit·u·a·tion
Pronunciation: "sich-&-'wA-sh&n
Function: noun
1 : the way in which something is placed inrelation to its surroundings
2 : the total set of physical, social, and psychocultural factors that act upon an individual in orienting and conditioning his or her behavior
3 : relative position or combination of circumstances at a particular moment
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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situation

see no-win situation.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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