 3 definitions found
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
problem
noun
1: a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved; "she and
her husband are having problems"; "it is always a job to
contact him"; "urban problems such as traffic congestion
and smog" [syn: {job}]
2: a source of difficulty; "one trouble after another delayed
the job"; "what's the problem?" [syn: {trouble}]
3: a question raised for consideration or solution; "our
homework consisted of ten problems to solve"
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Problem \Prob"lem\, noun [F. probl['e]me, L. problema, fr. Gr. ?
anything thrown forward, a question proposed for solution,
fr. ? to throw or lay before; ? before, forward + ? to throw.
Cf. {Parable}. ]
1. A question proposed for solution; a matter stated for
examination or proof; hence, a matter difficult of
solution or settlement; a doubtful case; a question
involving doubt. --Bacon.
2. (Math.) Anything which is required to be done; as, in
geometry, to bisect a line, to draw a perpendicular; or,
in algebra, to find an unknown quantity.
Note: Problem differs from theorem in this, that a problem is
something to be done, as to bisect a triangle, to
describe a circle, etc.; a theorem is something to be
proved, as that all the angles of a triangle are equal
to two right angles.
{Plane problem} (Geom.), a problem that can be solved by the
use of the rule and compass.
{Solid problem} (Geom.), a problem requiring in its geometric
solution the use of a conic section or higher curve.
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
196 Moby Thesaurus words for "problem":
Chinese puzzle, ado, aggravation, annoyance, anxiety, bad news,
baffle, bafflement, baffling problem, basis, bedevilment,
besetment, bewilderment, blemish, bone of contention, bore, bother,
botheration, bothersomeness, brain twister, bug, bugaboo, bugbear,
burden, can of worms, case, catch, catechism, chapter,
complication, concern, confoundment, confusion, conundrum, count,
crack, crashing bore, cross-interrogatory, cross-question,
crossword puzzle, crux, debating point, defect, defection,
deficiency, delinquent, demand, devilment, difficult, difficulty,
dilemma, disadvantage, discomposure, disconcert, disconcertedness,
disconcertion, disconcertment, disturbance, disturbed, dogging,
downer, drag, drawback, embarrassment, enigma, enigmatic question,
essence, evil, exasperation, facer, failing, failure, fault, faute,
feeler, fix, flaw, floorer, focus of attention, focus of interest,
foible, frailty, gist, great ado, harassment, harrying, head,
headache, heading, hole, hounding, illustration, imbroglio,
imperfection, inadequacy, inconvenience, incorrigible, infirmity,
inquiry, interrogation, interrogative, interrogatory, intractable,
issue, jam, jigsaw puzzle, kink, knot, knotty point, leader,
leading question, little problem, living issue, main point,
maladjusted, matter, matter in hand, meat, mess, mind-boggler,
molestation, moot point, motif, motive, muddle, mystery, nonplus,
nuisance, nut, nut to crack, obstreperous, peck of troubles,
perplexed question, perplexity, persecution, perturbation, pest,
pickle, plight, point, point at issue, point in question, poser,
pother, predicament, pretty pickle, puzzle, puzzlement, puzzler,
quandary, query, question, question at issue, question mark,
quodlibet, refractory, riddle, rift, rubric, scrape,
sea of troubles, shortcoming, sixty-four dollar question, snag,
something missing, stew, sticker, stumper, subject, subject matter,
subject of thought, substance, taint, text, theme, topic,
tough proposition, trial, trial balloon, trouble, unassuredness,
uncontrollable, ungovernable, unmanageable, unruly, upset,
vexation, vexatiousness, vexed question, vulnerable place,
weak link, weak point, weakness, why, worriment, worry
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