define
To determine with precision; to mark out with distinctness; to ascertain or exhibit clearly.
Verb 4 meanings
To determine with precision; to mark out with distinctness; to ascertain or exhibit clearly.
“the defining power of an optical instrument”
To express the essential nature of something.
“I define myself as a techno-anarchist.”
To state the meaning of a word, phrase, sign, or symbol.
“The textbook defined speed as velocity divided by time.”
To describe, explain, or make definite and clear; used to request the listener or other person to elaborate or explain more clearly his or her intended meaning of a word or expression.
Noun 1 meaning
A kind of macro in source code that replaces one text string with another wherever it occurs.
Etymology
From Middle English definen, from Old French definer, variant of definir, from Latin dēfīniō (“limit, settle, define”), from dē + fīniō (“set a limit, bound, end”).
DEFINE at a glance
DEFINE has 6 letters and scores 10 points in Scrabble (D 2 + E 1 + F 4 + I 1 + N 1 + E 1) and 11 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #4,143 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with define
All rhymesOne letter away
- REFINE9
- DEFILE10
- DESINE7
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