definition
Sign in to savethumb|A definition states the meaning of a word using other words. This is sometimes challenging. Common dictionaries contain lexical descriptive definitions, but there are various types of definition – all with different purposes and focuses.
AI overview
A definition explains what a word means by using other words to describe it, though doing this well can be tricky. There are many different types of definitions—like those found in common dictionaries—each designed for different purposes and ways of understanding.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Article
21 sectionsContents
- Basic terminology
- Intensional definitions vs extensional definitions
- Classes of intensional definitions
- Classes of extensional definitions
- ''Divisio'' and ''partitio''
- Nominal definitions vs real definitions
- Operational vs. theoretical definitions
- Terms with multiple definitions
- Homonyms
- Polysemes
- In logic, mathematics and computing
- Classification
- Recursive definitions
- In medicine
- Fallacies of definition
- Limitations of definition
- See also
- Notes
- References
- Bibliography
- External links
thumb|A definition states the meaning of a word using other words. This is sometimes challenging. Common dictionaries contain lexical descriptive definitions, but there are various types of definition – all with different purposes and focuses.
A definition is a semantic statement of the meaning of a term (a word, phrase, or other set of symbols). Definitions can be classified into two large categories: intensional definitions (which try to give the sense of a term), and extensional definitions (which try to list the objects that a term describes). Another important category of definitions is the class of ostensive definitions, which convey the meaning of a term by pointing out examples. A term may have many different senses and multiple meanings, and thus require multiple definitions.