abundance : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: abundance	by the DICT Development Group
2 results for abundance
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
abundance n the property of a more than adequate quantity or supply; "an age of abundance" Synonym(s): abundance, copiousness, teemingness Antonym(s): scarceness, scarcity (physics) the ratio of the number of atoms of a specific isotope of an element to the total number of isotopes present (chemistry) the ratio of the total mass of an element in the earth's crust to the total mass of the earth's crust; expressed as a percentage or in parts per million
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Abundance \Abun"dance\, n. [OE. (h)abundaunce, abundance, F. abondance, L. abundantia, fr. abundare. See {Abound}.] An overflowing fullness; ample sufficiency; great plenty; profusion; copious supply; superfluity; wealth: -- strictly applicable to quantity only, but sometimes used of number. It is lamentable to remember what abundance* of noble blood hath been shed with small benefit to the Christian state. --Raleigh. Syn: Exuberance; plenteousness; plenty; copiousness; overflow; riches; affluence; wealth. Usage: {Abundance}, {Plenty}, {Exuberance}. These words rise upon each other in expressing the idea of fullness. Plenty denotes a sufficiency to supply every want; as, plenty of food, plenty of money, etc. Abundance express more, and gives the idea of superfluity or excess; as, abundance of riches, an abundance of wit and humor; often, however, it only denotes plenty in a high degree. Exuberance rises still higher, and implies a bursting forth on every side, producing great superfluity or redundance; as, an exuberance of mirth, an exuberance of animal spirits, etc.