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Dictionary Definition

abstract adj

1 existing only in the mind; separated from embodiment; "abstract words like `truth' and `justice'" [ant: concrete]

2 not representing or imitating external reality or the objects of nature; "a large abstract painting" [syn: abstractionist, nonfigurative, nonobjective]

3 based on specialized theory; "a theoretical analysis" [syn: theoretical]

4 dealing with a subject in the abstract without practical purpose or intention; "abstract reasoning"; "abstract science"

Noun

1 a concept or idea not associated with any specific instance; "he loved her only in the abstract--not in person" [syn: abstraction]

2 a sketchy summary of the main points of an argument or theory [syn: outline, synopsis, precis]

Verb

1 consider a concept without thinking of a specific example; consider abstractly or theoretically

2 make off with belongings of others [syn: pilfer, cabbage, purloin, pinch, snarf, swipe, hook, sneak, filch, nobble, lift]

3 consider apart from a particular case or instance; "Let's abstract away from this particular example"

4 give an abstract (of)

User Contributed Dictionary

English

Etymology 1

From etyl fro abstract, or from etyl la abstractus, past participle of abstrahere formed from abs- + trahere.

Pronunciation

, /ˈæbstrækt/, /"

Extensive Definition

Abstract may refer to:

Synonyms, Antonyms and Related Words

abate, abbreviate, abbreviation, abbreviature, abrade, abrege, abridge, abridgment, abstract idea, abstraction, abstruse, academic, altarpiece, and, annex, apocope, appropriate, arcane, armchair, bag, bate, bland, block print, bob, boil down, boost, borrow, breviary, brief, broad, capsule, capsulize, cast off, cast out, chuck, clear, clear away, clear out, clear the decks, clip, collage, collective, color print, colorless, compend, compress, compression, conceptual, condensation, condense, condensed version, conjectural, conspectus, contract, cop, copy, crib, crop, curtail, curtailment, cut, cut back, cut down, cut off short, cut out, cut short, cyclorama, daub, decrease, deduct, deep, defraud, deport, depreciate, derogate, detached, detract, digest, diminish, diptych, disconnect, disengage, disinterested, disparage, dispassionate, dispose of, dissociate, divide, dock, draft, drain, eat away, eject, elide, eliminate, elision, ellipsis, embezzle, engraving, epitome, epitomize, eradicate, erode, esoteric, essence, exile, expatriate, expel, extort, extract, featureless, filch, file away, foreshorten, foreshortening, fresco, general, generalized, generic, get quit of, get rid of, get shut of, head, hidden, hook, hypothetic, hypothetical, icon, ideal, ideational, illumination, illustration, image, impair, impersonal, impractical, indefinite, indeterminate, intellectual, leach, lessen, lift, likeness, liquidate, make off with, metaphysical, miniature, montage, moot, mosaic, mow, mural, nebulous, neutral, nip, nonspecific, notional, occult, outlaw, outline, overview, palm, pandect, panorama, part, photograph, pick out, picture, pilfer, pinch, poach, poker-faced, poll, pollard, postulatory, precis, print, profound, prune, purge, purify, purloin, reap, recap, recapitulate, recapitulation, recondite, reduce, reduction, refine, remove, representation, reproduction, resume, retrench, retrenchment, review, root out, root up, rub away, rubric, run away with, rustle, scrounge, secret, separate, shave, shear, shoplift, shorten, shortened version, shortening, skeleton, sketch, snare, snatch, snitch, snub, speculative, stained glass window, steal, stencil, still life, strike off, strike out, stunt, subduct, subtract, sum up, summarize, summary, summation, survey, swindle, swipe, syllabus, symbolic, syncope, synopsis, synopsize, tableau, take, take away, take from, take in, tapestry, telescope, telescoping, theoretical, thieve, thin, thin out, throw over, throw overboard, thumbnail sketch, topical outline, transcendent, transcendental, trim, triptych, truncate, truncation, unapplied, uncharacterized, uncouple, undemonstrable, undifferentiated, unpractical, unspecified, utopian, vague, visionary, walk off with, wall painting, wear away, weed, weed out, wide, withdraw

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