Questions tagged [definition]
Definition is a statement of the exact meaning of a word or phrase, especially when given in a dictionary.
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questions
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1answer
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which sentence fits this definition of “when”?
The Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English has the following definition of "when":
used to introduce a fact or statement that makes something seem surprising
I'd like to know which of ...
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1answer
22 views
What's the meaning of “the big sort”?
I'm listening to Brene Brown's podcast. The word "big sort" comes up, and i've tried to search for meaning on the internet but there was no definition :'(
Can you please explain it to me?
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20 views
Meaning of somewhere off?
What is the definition of "somewhere off" not just in this example but also the meaning in general
Example:
Potential infinity refers to a procedure that gets closer and closer to, but never ...
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1answer
29 views
Can “annular” mean both rectangular ring and circular ring?
Some dictionaries define the term "annular" as ring-shaped.
So, I think both shapes shown above can be described as an annular shape.
If it is necessary to distinguish the two shapes, the ...
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0answers
17 views
Definition of 'purpose' & relative adverbs
purpose (Cambridge)
Why you do something or why something exists.
purpose (Merriam)
The reason why something is done or used.
Does it mean 'why' can be replaced by 'the reason why'?
If so, is 'why' a ...
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1answer
32 views
Don't word defintions need to be in one of five phrase types?
There are noun phrases, adjective phrases, adverb phrases, verb phrases, prepositional phrases. Word definitions don't need to be in one of five types?
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1answer
17 views
Can we really call them adverbs?
Only adv. :as recently as : not before
Merely adv. :nothing more than
I think 1 is more like a preposition and 2 is a noun+preposition.
Both are from a Merriam Webster dictionary.
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0answers
17 views
Some questions about “can (not) help”
It would be highly appreciated that one helps me to find an equivalent for sentences below:
In the OALD dictionary, it was written that: "sb can (not) help (doing) sth| sb cannot help but do sth&...
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1answer
36 views
What does an “abstract model” mean?
I came across the following sentence in a book on political theory:
Political theory stands for an abstract model of the political order…
a guide to the systematic collection and analysis of ...
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1answer
27 views
What does “cosmologies” mean in this particular context?
Consider the following extract:
A skillful cook can make delectable dishes without quite being able to
tell us how. (Conversely, the possession of a good recipe book is not
sufficient to make a good ...
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1answer
25 views
What does “abstraction” mean in this particular context?
"A theory aspires to some degree of generality and abstraction." The book where I found this sentence is a book in one of the disciplines of humanities. According to Merriam-Webster, "...
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1answer
41 views
What is the meaning of “Life is true to form…”?
I've come to read this Mark Spitz' quote:
Life is true to form; records are meant to be broken.
Second part is 100% clear to me and surprisingly the first part is nearly none percent. I'm not good ...
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1answer
25 views
What does “much to the displeasure of” mean?
But he stayed put, and so did Biron, much to the displeasure of the crowd.
Did he and Biron stay put because of the crowd's displeasure or the crowd was displeasured by Biron and him to stay put?
...
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1answer
64 views
What's the exact meaning of the word “nows”?
I've been reading an article from Newsela, and there was a sentence that goes
"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, changed its guidelines the week of March 16. It nows says ...
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2answers
38 views
half-column means terse?
In the opening paragraph to “The Adventure of the Engineer’s Thumb” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Watson writes:
The story has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers,
but, like all such ...
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1answer
39 views
Definition of Forged
I am confused about how I can use the word 'forged' in my English essay.
Here is my sentence:
Through building an undying bond with his son, forged through the omnipotence of love, they survive even ...
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2answers
138 views
The difference between characteristic, feature, aspect, attribute and quality, their definitions are defined using each other
It's annoying the Dictionary always happens to me this absurdity:
Characteristic - distinguishing feature or quality
Feature - a distinctive attribute or aspect of something
Attribute - regard a ...
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1answer
35 views
“They have harmed oneself” is wrong in this sentence?
They have harmed oneself? It should be better instead they have harmed themselves? Or it's referring to they are harming someone in the highlighted part?
retaliation NOUN
mass noun
1The action of ...
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2answers
20 views
Pure meaning about people
-Thinking about the school festival's concert makes me happy
-You're so pure
What does "pure" means when we talk about people and what it means in this context?
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0answers
34 views
Not understanding the sentences with the formula 'word + out '
Exist a pattern that I already do not know to decipher each phrase with the formula word + out?
Work Out = Excercise
Deck Out = Decorate
Force out = Compel to leave
How does adding out is related to ...
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2answers
144 views
What is an entry in a dictionary?
I see the marketing on selling dictionaries "350,000 entries and meanings", I searched in the dictionary and I get
An entry is:
The description is too general, what is an item in a ...
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1answer
29 views
What place is this quote referring to?
What is "Bankers' row and sleight of hand at Seventh Avenue fashion houses" referring to?
I searched Google Maps for Seventh Avenue and 6 Seventh Avenue in the US, awkward.
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3answers
72 views
Can we call Mathematics a kind of Art?
The dictionary says Art can refer to 'skill in conducting any human activity', and it also has an archaic usage 'science, learning, or scholarship'. So can we call Mathematics a kind of art or is it ...
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2answers
96 views
Science(s): natural sciences only?
What do the terms "science" and "the sciences" refer to: the natural sciences (physics, biology, ...) only or also all scholarly disciplines in general (including, e.g. psychology ...
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1answer
31 views
How many people/something would you imagine when you hear a phrase “a number of”?
Definitions of "a number of":
Collins Dictionary at https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/a-number-of
an unspecified number of; several or many
Merriam-Webster at https://...
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0answers
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Learning vocabulary is a journey wihout destination, but exist ways to accelerate?
Is a hassle to learn vocabulary, I'm not saying is the devil and needs to be avoided, it's worth-while but I have been learning for the past year and I feel it consume a lot of my time and energy that ...
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1answer
45 views
What does “libel act” mean?
What does "LIBEL ACT" mean? Does "the state of things was even more in evidence means that the situation was worse than England or not?
Even at the present day the air is charged with ...
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3answers
657 views
If a legatee receives a legacy, what is the legacy giver called? Maybe legateer?
I'm looking for a word to describe a person who leaves a legacy. It would be nice to call someone or a group of people that word. Similar to how being a maverick is someone who's different from the ...
0
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1answer
176 views
Why does the definition of ingratiate say “gain favor WITH somebody” instead of “FROM or FOR somebody”?
Ingratiate
verb: gain favor with somebody by deliberate efforts
Even though Tom didn't like his new boss, he decided to ingratiate himself to her in order to advance his career.
I find the ...
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1answer
28 views
Is the term “restricted interest” not redundant?
Here is a quote from an article on Wikipedia on Asperger's Syndrome:
People with Asperger syndrome often display restricted or specialized
interests, such as this boy's interest in stacking cans.
...
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1answer
19 views
What is the exact meaning of the word additional?
I would like to ask one question regarding the meaning of the word additional.
Does the word additional carry on the connotation of optional?
Like for example if I write "additional settings" in a ...
1
vote
1answer
35 views
what does it mean when a name fascinates you [closed]
I just wanted to know out of curiosity because I was wondering and I did not know what it is so can someone please explain it to me I don't know because no one has told me
3
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1answer
30 views
What does “do/start the circuit” mean in filmmaking?
Could you be so kind and explain the meaning of "doing of circuit"? Action goes in Hollywood.
As far as I understand it is something actors do after movie is made, but have no idea what it is... :( ...
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1answer
698 views
Meaning of “broken shell of a man”
Rachel: So, got any advice? Y'know, as someone who's recently been- dumped?
Ross: Well, you may wanna steer clear of the word 'dumped'. Chances are he's gonna be this, this broken shell of a man
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1answer
28 views
What is the meaning of “Or else”
Okay. Okay. I am just going to get up, go to work and not think about him all day. Or else I'm just gonna get up and go to work.
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1answer
97 views
What Does very interesting mean [closed]
I would just like to know because I do not know the meaning and I would like some clarification so please can someone clarify what it is
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0answers
20 views
“over in about six weeks” - What does that mean?
Text:
No. The reason is that on the internet no one knows if you’re a dog. So legislators, executives, or administrators who are being lobbied by these petitions don’t know if you are a registered ...
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2answers
41 views
Is there a phrasal verb that describes going around, engaging in pointless chores just to kill some time because you don't know what to do?
Not "to procrastinate", maybe a verb that emphasizes more on the movement characteristic of the action
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0answers
43 views
What does 'Maytey' mean in John Clare's poem?
What is the meaning of 'Maytey' in John Clare's poem titled 'To an April Daisy'?
It starts with the line, which is "Welcome old Maytey peeping once again."
Does it mean 'mate' in a familiar style?
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1answer
19 views
“Virtually” and wiktionary
I read
Ordinary language, as most of us are at least vaguely aware, serves various functions in
our day-to-day lives. The twentieth-century philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein thought
the number of ...
4
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3answers
812 views
The use of the word “problematic” in a sentence
There are a couple of words one can use to refer to someone with a hearing problem, such as "deaf", "hearing-impaired" or "hard of hearing".
I was wondering if we could use the word "problematic" to ...
0
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1answer
87 views
Difference between “being passionate” and "being
I've looked at definitions of both "passionate" and "passional", and they are pretty much the same, but I can't help but feel being passionate is different from being passional
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0answers
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Phrasal verb - stamp something out (definition)
I have read this, and I read "and stamping out an epidemic that has killed more than 1,000 people and infected more than 40,000."
So, from Cambridge Dictionary I get:
stamp something out
— ...
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1answer
29 views
What does “you're comin' at my friends” mean?
Does "you're comin' at my friends" mean:
"you blame my friends"
or
"you're trying to become my friend"
or something else?
Lyrics:
You are somebody that we don't know
But you're comin' at my ...
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vote
2answers
1k views
What is the difference between faith and superstition?
What is the difference between faith and superstition?
When should I consider faith as superstition?
From google define
Faith - complete trust or confidence in someone or something.
...
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1answer
1k views
What does it mean by approach, method, principle, technique in ELT?
According to Longman Dictionary of Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics:
.
approach n
in language teaching, the theory, philosophy and principles underlying a particular set of teaching ...
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2answers
50 views
definitions of “co-opt” and inferences
If someone has been co-opted into a group, is he or she necessarily a member of it?
Recently, I came across the following usage description:
co-opt
2. verb
If someone is co-opted into a group, ...
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2answers
152 views
realign yourself with somebody
A learner's dictionary gives the following definition and sentence. Do you think the definition is accurate? It bothers me to find it different from other dictionaries' definitions, which don't ...
5
votes
2answers
3k views
What does “teleport anywhere in the world” mean?
The definition says:
To transport by teleportation.
But what's not clear is if "teleport anywhere in the world" means "teleport from anywhere" or "teleport to anywhere" or "teleport to anywhere ...
0
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0answers
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On this definition of holding
A tenure; a farm or other estate held of another.
The above is the third definition of holding in this dictionary.
I couldn't make sense of the part in italics, especially on their use of held; is ...
