26984 words

abstract

15 definitions • 16 examples
1
existing as an idea, feeling, or quality, not as a material object:

Examples:

Truth and beauty are abstract concepts.
2
An abstract argument or discussion is general and not based on particular examples:

Examples:

This debate is becoming too abstract - let's have some hard facts!
3

Examples:

in the abstract So far we've only discussed the question in the abstract (= without referring to any real examples).
I have difficulty dealing with the abstract - let's discuss particular cases.
4
used to refer to a type of painting, drawing, or sculpture that uses shapes, lines, and colour in a way that does not try to represent the appearance of people or things:

Examples:

abstract art
an abstract painter
5
a short form of a speech, article, book, etc., giving only the most important facts or ideas:

Examples:

There is a section at the end of the magazine that includes abstracts of recent articles/books.
6
a painting that uses shapes, lines, and colour in a way that does not try to represent the appearance of people or things
7
to consider something in a general way or make a general judgment after looking at particular details:

Examples:

Most interviewees focus on their own experience and do not generalize or abstract the situation.
A general rule is arrived at by abstracting from the data.
8
to remove or separate someone or something from a place or context (= the situation, facts, words, etc. that exist around something):

Examples:

abstract someone from something It was impossible to abstract children from their social environment with all its dangers.
abstract something from something Relevant information was abstracted from the database or from medical records.
9
to give a summary or abstract (= a short description giving the most important ideas) of something:

Examples:

If you find an article you think should be abstracted in our journal, submit it for consideration.
10
existing as an idea, feeling, or quality, not as a material object:

Examples:

"Humanity" is an abstract idea.
11
If a statement, argument, or discussion is abstract, it is general and not based on particular examples.
12
A painting, drawing, or sculpture is described as abstract if it tries to represent the qualities of objects or people but does not show their outer appearance:

Examples:

abstract art
13
a few sentences that give the main ideas in an article or a scientific paper
14
existing as an idea, feeling, or quality, not as a material object:

Examples:

"Satisfaction" is difficult to measure as it is an abstract concept.
15
a shortened form of a speech, article, book, etc., giving the most important facts or ideas:

Examples:

There is a section at the end of the magazine which includes abstracts of recent articles.

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