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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Define \De*fine"\, verb (used with an object) [imp. & p. p. {Defined}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Defining}.] [OE. definer, usually, to end, to finish, F. d['e]finir to define, L. definire to limit, define; de- + finire to limit, end, finis boundary, limit, end. See {Final}, {Finish}.]
1. To fix the bounds of; to bring to a termination; to end. ''To define controversies.'' --Barrow.
2. To determine or clearly exhibit the boundaries of; to mark the limits of; as, to define the extent of a kingdom or country.
3. To determine with precision; to mark out with distinctness; to ascertain or exhibit clearly; as, the defining power of an optical instrument.
Rings . . . very distinct and well defined. --Sir I. Newton.
4. To determine the precise signification of; to fix the meaning of; to describe accurately; to explain; to expound or interpret; as, to define a word, a phrase, or a scientific term.
They define virtue to be life ordered according to nature. --Robynson (More's Utopia).
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
defined
adjective
1: clearly characterized or delimited; "lost in a maze of words both defined and undefined"; "each child has clearly defined duties" [ant: {undefined}]
2: showing clearly the outline or profile or boundary; "hills defined against the evening sky"; "the setting sun showed the outlined figure of a man standing on the hill" [syn: {outlined}]
3: clearly defined; "I have no formed opinion about the chances of success" [syn: {formed}, {settled}]
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
83 Moby Thesaurus words for "defined": absolute, certain, circumscribed, circumscript, clean-cut, clear, clear as crystal, clear as day, clear-cut, coherent, concrete, connected, consistent, conspicuous, crisp, crystal-clear, crystalline, definite, delimited, demarcated, detailed, determinate, determined, different, direct, distinct, distinguished, encircled, esoteric, especial, evident, exceptional, explicit, express, extraordinary, fixed, glaring, hedged about, in focus, individual, inner, intimate, limpid, loud and clear, lucid, luminous, minute, noteworthy, obvious, particular, patent, pellucid, personal, perspicuous, plain, precise, private, prominent, pronounced, respective, set, several, simple, singular, solipsistic, special, specific, staring, stated, straightforward, surrounded, translucent, transparent, transpicuous, unambiguous, unconfused, unequivocal, univocal, unmistakable, well-defined, well-marked, well-pronounced, well-resolved
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Definitions retrieved from local copies of the freely distributed DICT client/server software and databases. Click here for database copyright information. - KM |