definition
Word family
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++def·i·ni·tion /ˌdefəˈnɪʃən/ ●●○ S3 W2 AWL noun 1 [countable]MEANING a phrase or sentence that says exactly what a word, phrase, or idea means 定义，释义 → define a dictionary definition 词典里的释义definition of There are many definitions of the word ‘feminism’. “女权主义” 一词有许多定义。definition of something as something the definition of God as infinite 认为上帝即无限者的定义2 by definition TYPICALif something has a particular quality by definition, it must have that quality because all things of that type have it 必然〔有某种品质，因为同类事物全都有这种品质〕 People say that students are by definition idealistic and impatient. 人们说学生必定是理想主义的、躁动不安的。3 [uncountable]CLEAR/EASY TO SEE the clear edges, shapes, or sound that something has 清晰度，鲜明度 technologies such as high definition television 高清电视之类的技术 good muscle definition 健美而清晰的肌肉轮廓n COLLOCATIONSADJECTIVES/NOUN + definitionclear/precise The head teacher gave us a precise definition of the school’s aims.broad (=including a lot of general ideas)This is a very broad definition of what poetry is.narrow (=including only a few ideas)Some psychiatrists still use a very narrow definition of mental illness.the dictionary definitionSome doctors don’t accept the dictionary definition of euthanasia, and want to create different categories of assisted death.the legal definition of somethingWhat is the legal definition of manslaughter?verbsgive a definitionCan you give me a definition of 'psychology'?extend/broaden/widen a definition (=make it include more ideas)The new law has broadened the definition of terrorism.Examples from the Corpus
definition• Could one of the class give me a definition of the word "equilibrium"?• More broadly, should a complete definition of democracy have more than electoral components?• Hence the expansion of dictionary definitions descends into progressive generality, displaying a weaker and weaker semantic relationship with the original word.• Sadly, even information specifically stored for secondary analysis can be marred by obscurities in definition that are not easily resolved.• Alternatively, dictatorship might be better defined by the absence of a limited mandate-a critical factor in our definition of democracy.• But perhaps we can waive our definitions and come to an understanding on the basis of an adjustment in the rent.• These arguments present questions of the meaning of the Twenty-first Amendment, the bounds of which have escaped precise definition.• The depth of the North-South divide, its precise definition, and directions of change are key issues for this volume.• This was despite the government's stated aim that the definition of regulated activities should be sufficiently clear to avoid unnecessary registration.• Obviously your definition of "rich" is very different from mine.definition of• What's the correct definition of the word "moot"?• It depends on your definition of success.def·i·ni·tion noun →n COLLOCATIONS1LDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable
Corpus or phrase sentence that a says
definition
def‧i‧ni‧tion S2 W2 AC /ˌdefəˈnɪʃən, ˌdefɪˈnɪʃən/
noun
a dictionary definition
definition of
There are many definitions of the word ‘feminism’.
definition of something as something
the definition of God as infinite
2. by definition if something has a particular quality by definition, it must have that quality because all things of that type have it:
People say that students are by definition idealistic and impatient.
3. [uncountable] the clear edges, shapes, or sound that something has:
technologies such as high definition television
good muscle definition
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + definition
▪clear/precise The head teacher gave us a precise definition of the school’s aims.
▪broad (=including a lot of general ideas) This is a very broad definition of what poetry is.
▪narrow (=including only a few ideas) Some psychiatrists still use a very narrow definition of mental illness.
▪the dictionary definition Some doctors don’t accept the dictionary definition of euthanasia, and want to create different categories of assisted death.
▪the legal definition of something What is the legal definition of manslaughter?
■ verbs
▪give a definition Can you give me a definition of 'psychology'?
▪extend/broaden/widen a definition (=make it include more ideas) The new law has broadened the definition of terrorism.
def‧i‧ni‧tion S2 W2 AC /ˌdefəˈnɪʃən, ˌdefɪˈnɪʃən/
noun Word Family: verb: define; noun: definition; adverb: definitely ≠ indefinitely; adjective: definite ≠ indefinite
1. [countable] a phrase or sentence that says exactly what a word, phrase, or idea means ⇨ define: definition of
definition of something as something
2. by definition if something has a particular quality by definition, it must have that quality because all things of that type have it:
3. [uncountable] the clear edges, shapes, or sound that something has:
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Defining terms 为术语下定义
◆ It is important to clarify what is meant by climate change.说清楚 “气候变化” 的含义很重要。 ◆ Climate change can /may be defined as 'the long-term fluctuations in temperature, precipitation, wind and other aspects of the earth's climate'.气候变化可以被定义为 “地球气候在温度、降水量、风力及其他方面的长期波动”。 ◆ A generally accepted definition of global warmingis the gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth's atmosphere due to the greenhouse effect.对于全球变暖，普遍接受的一种定义是：由于受到温室效应的影响，地球大气层总体温度逐渐上升。 ◆ The greenhouse effect is defined by the authoras the process by which heat from the sun is trapped in the earth's atmosphere, causing the temperature of the earth to rise.作者将温室效应定义为：地球大气层锁住来自太阳的热量，导致地球温度上升的过程。 ◆ The author uses the term climate changeto refer to any significant change in measures of climate lasting for an extended period.作者使用 “气候变化” 这个术语来指代任何持续较长时间的气候的显著变化。 ◆ The term 'carbon footprint'refers to the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result of the activities of an individual or organization.“碳足迹” 这个术语指的是由于个人或组织的活动排放到大气层中的二氧化碳的量。 ◆ Scientists suggest that increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will result in an increase in global temperatures, and the term 'global warming'is used to describe this phenomenon.科学家认为大气层中二氧化碳的增加会导致全球气温上升，“全球变暖” 这个术语就是用来描述这种现象的。