define
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Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.
define
- /dɪˈfaɪn/
Rhymes with -aɪn
Where it comes from
From Middle English definen, from Old French definer, variant of definir, from Latin dēfīniō (“limit, settle, define”), from dē + fīniō (“set a limit, bound, end”).
verb defines · defining · defined
- To determine with precision; to mark out with distinctness; to ascertain or exhibit clearly. the defining power of an optical instrument
- To settle, decide (an argument etc.). These warlike Champions, all in armour shine, / Assembled were in field the chalenge to define.
- To express the essential nature of something. I define myself as a techno-anarchist.
- To state the meaning of a word, phrase, sign, or symbol. The textbook defined speed as velocity divided by time.
- To describe, explain, or make definite and clear; used to request the listener or other person to elaborate or explain more clearly his or her intended meaning of a word or expression. Person 1: Is she good at math? Person 2: Define "good." If you mean if she is faster than the average middle schooler at multiplication, then yes. If you mean if she is able to do multivariable calculus, then no.
- To demark sharply the outlines or limits of an area or concept. to define the legal boundaries of a property
- To establish the referent of a term or notation.
noun defines
- A kind of macro in source code that replaces one text string with another wherever it occurs. From the computer programming perspective, Java looks like C and C++ while discarding the overwhelming complexities of those languages, such as typedefs, defines, preprocessor, unions, pointers, and multiple inheritance.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: specify, delimitate, delimit, delineate, specifying, definitional, explain, clarifying, devising, indicate, identifying, create, shape, identify, identification, designate
Translations
Every language
verb to determine
| Español | determinar, definir, definirse |
|---|---|
| Português | definir |
| Français | déterminer |
| Deutsch | bestimmen |
| Italiano | definire, determinare |
| Русский | определя́ть opredeljátʹ, определи́ть opredelítʹ |
| עברית | הגדיר higdír |
verb express the essential nature of
| Español | aclarar, definir |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 界定 jièdìng |
| Português | definir |
| Italiano | definire |
verb state meaning of
| Español | definir |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 정의하다 jeong'uihada |
| 日本語 | 定義する teigi suru |
| 中文 | 定义 dìngyì |
| Português | definir |
| Français | définir |
| Deutsch | definieren |
| Italiano | definire |
| Română | defini |
| Русский | опи́сывать opísyvatʹ, описа́ть opisátʹ |
verb describe, explain, make definite and clear
| Español | describir, definir |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | definieren |
| Italiano | definire, descrivere |
| Русский | опи́сывать opísyvatʹ, описа́ть opisátʹ |
verb demark the limits of
| Español | delimitar, demarcar, definir |
|---|---|
| Français | définir |
| Русский | обознача́ть oboznačátʹ, обозна́чить oboznáčitʹ |
Talk about this word "define." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/define. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. define. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/define "define." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/define.Cite this
@misc{define_2026,
title = {define},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/define},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
