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English Dictionary: abstract by the DICT Development Group
5 results for abstract
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
abstract
adj
  1. existing only in the mind; separated from embodiment; "abstract words like `truth' and `justice'"
    Antonym(s): concrete
  2. not representing or imitating external reality or the objects of nature; "a large abstract painting"
    Synonym(s): abstract, abstractionist, nonfigurative, nonobjective
  3. dealing with a subject in the abstract without practical purpose or intention; "abstract reasoning"; "abstract science"
n
  1. a concept or idea not associated with any specific instance; "he loved her only in the abstract--not in person"
    Synonym(s): abstraction, abstract
  2. a sketchy summary of the main points of an argument or theory
    Synonym(s): outline, synopsis, abstract, precis
v
  1. consider a concept without thinking of a specific example; consider abstractly or theoretically
  2. make off with belongings of others
    Synonym(s): pilfer, cabbage, purloin, pinch, abstract, 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)
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
   Abstract \Ab"stract`\ (#; 277), a. [L. abstractus, p. p. of
      abstrahere to draw from, separate; ab, abs + trahere to draw.
      See {Trace}.]
      1. Withdraw; separate. [Obs.]
  
                     The more abstract . . . we are from the body.
                                                                              --Norris.
  
      2. Considered apart from any application to a particular
            object; separated from matter; existing in the mind only;
            as, abstract truth, abstract numbers. Hence: ideal;
            abstruse; difficult.
  
      3. (Logic)
            (a) Expressing a particular property of an object viewed
                  apart from the other properties which constitute it;
                  -- opposed to {concrete}; as, honesty is an abstract
                  word. --J. S. Mill.
            (b) Resulting from the mental faculty of abstraction;
                  general as opposed to particular; as, [bd]reptile[b8]
                  is an abstract or general name. --Locke.
  
                           A concrete name is a name which stands for a
                           thing; an abstract name which stands for an
                           attribute of a thing. A practice has grown up in
                           more modern times, which, if not introduced by
                           Locke, has gained currency from his example, of
                           applying the expression [bd]abstract name[b8] to
                           all names which are the result of abstraction
                           and generalization, and consequently to all
                           general names, instead of confining it to the
                           names of attributes.                     --J. S. Mill.
  
      4. Abstracted; absent in mind. [bd]Abstract, as in a
            trance.[b8] --Milton.
  
      {An abstract idea} (Metaph.), an idea separated from a
            complex object, or from other ideas which naturally
            accompany it; as the solidity of marble when contemplated
            apart from its color or figure.
  
      {Abstract terms}, those which express abstract ideas, as
            beauty, whiteness, roundness, without regarding any object
            in which they exist; or abstract terms are the names of
            orders, genera or species of things, in which there is a
            combination of similar qualities.
  
      {Abstract numbers} (Math.), numbers used without application
            to things, as 6, 8, 10; but when applied to any thing, as
            6 feet, 10 men, they become concrete.
  
      {Abstract} [or] {Pure mathematics}. See {Mathematics}.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
   Abstract \Ab*stract"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Abstracted}; p. pr.
      & vb. n. {Abstracting}.] [See {Abstract}, a.]
      1. To withdraw; to separate; to take away.
  
                     He was incapable of forming any opinion or
                     resolution abstracted from his own prejudices. --Sir
                                                                              W. Scott.
  
      2. To draw off in respect to interest or attention; as, his
            was wholly abstracted by other objects.
  
                     The young stranger had been abstracted and silent.
                                                                              --Blackw. Mag.
  
      3. To separate, as ideas, by the operation of the mind; to
            consider by itself; to contemplate separately, as a
            quality or attribute. --Whately.
  
      4. To epitomize; to abridge. --Franklin.
  
      5. To take secretly or dishonestly; to purloin; as, to
            abstract goods from a parcel, or money from a till.
  
                     Von Rosen had quietly abstracted the bearing-reins
                     from the harness.                              --W. Black.
  
      6. (Chem.) To separate, as the more volatile or soluble parts
            of a substance, by distillation or other chemical
            processes. In this sense extract is now more generally
            used.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
   Abstract \Ab*stract"\, v. t.
      To perform the process of abstraction. [R.]
  
               I own myself able to abstract in one sense. --Berkeley.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
   Abstract \Ab"stract`\, n. [See {Abstract}, a.]
      1. That which comprises or concentrates in itself the
            essential qualities of a larger thing or of several
            things. Specifically: A summary or an epitome, as of a
            treatise or book, or of a statement; a brief.
  
                     An abstract of every treatise he had read. --Watts.
  
                     Man, the abstract Of all perfection, which the
                     workmanship Of Heaven hath modeled.   --Ford.
  
      2. A state of separation from other things; as, to consider a
            subject in the abstract, or apart from other associated
            things.
  
      3. An abstract term.
  
                     The concretes [bd]father[b8] and [bd]son[b8] have,
                     or might have, the abstracts [bd]paternity[b8] and
                     [bd]filiety.[b8]                                 --J. S. Mill.
  
      4. (Med.) A powdered solid extract of a vegetable substance
            mixed with sugar of milk in such proportion that one part
            of the abstract represents two parts of the original
            substance.
  
      {Abstract of title} (Law), an epitome of the evidences of
            ownership.
  
      Syn: Abridgment; compendium; epitome; synopsis. See
               {Abridgment}.
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