definition

Noun

definition (countable and uncountable, plural definitions)

1. A statement of the meaning of a word, word group, sign, or symbol; especially, a dictionary definition.
   • Your definition of "elephant" needs to be more precise than "a big animal with large ears".
   • DEFINITIONS mean nothing unless the concept in the mind of the men who makes the definition is the same as that in the mind of the man who hears it.1925, Thomas R. Marshall, Recollections of Thomas R. Marshall, Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC, →OL, page 65
2. (usually) A clear instance conforming to the dictionary or textbook definition.
   • Baroque is a good game, but only for a very narrow subset of the gaming audience. It is the very definition of a niche title.2008 May, Shoeless Wayne Santos, “Baroque” (game review), GameAxis Unwired, Hardware Zone Pte, page 51
   • Comedy Bang! Bang! It’s silly, it spoofy – it’s the very definition of a hidden gem2016 March 1, Stuart Heritage, “Comedy Bang! Bang! It’s silly, it spoofy - it’s the very definition of a hidden gem”, in The Guardian
3. A statement expressing the essential nature of something; formulation.
4. The action or process of defining.
5. The act of defining; determination of the limits.
6. A product of defining.
7. The action or power of describing, explaining, or making definite and clear.
   • Her comic genius is beyond definition.
8. Clarity of visual presentation, distinctness of outline or detail.
   • The definition of a telescope.
   • Improve the definition of an image.
9. Clarity, especially of musical sound in reproduction.
10. Sharp demarcation of outlines or limits.
    • A jacket with distinct waist definition.
11. The degree to which individual muscles are distinct on the body.
12. A statement which provides a previous declaration with a value or body of a subroutine (in the case of function).
13. A statement that establishes the referent of a term or notation.
14. (crosswording) The part of a cryptic clue which defines but does not indicate the solution.
    • However, some clues include words that do not form part of the wordplay or the definition.2014, Henry Howarth, Learn How to Solve Cryptic Crosswords: A Course for Beginners, Lulu.com, →ISBN, page 59