principles

Noun

principle (plural principles)

1. A fundamental assumption, fundamental law or guiding belief.
   • We need some sort of principles to reason from.

   Synonyms:

   premise

2. A rule used to choose among solutions to a problem.
   • The principle of least privilege holds that a process should only receive the permissions it needs.
3. (sometimes pluralized) Moral rule or aspect.
   • I don't doubt your principles.

   Synonyms:

   tenet, value

4. A rule or law of nature, or the basic idea on how the laws of nature are applied.
   • Bernoulli's principle
5. A fundamental essence, particularly one producing a given quality.
   • Many believe that life is the result of some vital principle.
   1. A chemical compound within plant or animal tissue that is characteristic of it and more or less peculiar to it, such that it defines the character of that tissue from a human viewpoint (as for example nicotine in tobacco).
      • the active principle

See all 10 meanings of principle