define

Word family (noun) definition (adjective) definite ≠ indefinite (verb) define (adverb) definitely ≠ indefinitely

From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishdefinede‧fine /dɪˈfaɪn/ S2 W2 AWL verb [transitive] 1 DESCRIBEto describe something correctly and thoroughly, and to say what standards, limits, qualities etc it has that make it different from other things the ability to define clients’ needs The duties of the post are difficult to define.clearly/well defined The tasks will be clearly defined by the tutor.define something as something 70% of the workers can be defined as low-paid.2 MEANINGto explain exactly the meaning of a particular word or idea → definition I’ll now try to define the term ‘popular culture’.define something as something A budget is defined as ‘a plan of action expressed in money terms’. Define precisely what you mean by ‘crime’. 3 CLEAR/EASY TO SEEto show the edge or shape of something clearly → definition The bird has sharply defined black and rust markings. —definable adjective→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpusdefine• This, clearly, is another key concept in the theory, so how is it defined?• The rest of the movie, however, is not as successful; motivations are unexplained and characters are less than defined.• They define a good patient as one who accepts their state-ments and their actions uncritically and unquestioningly.• Dietary fibre can be loosely defined as the cell-wall material of plants.• The dictionary defines it as "a narrow passage".• The outer boundary of a closed figure usually defines its size.• Early childhood educators are rarely involved in defining problems, shaping solutions, or choosing options.• Each of us might define the concept of freedom in a slightly different way.• It must define the target and the date by which it is to be achieved.• Some one else defines who they are and what they stand for as public figures.clearly/well defined• Task alignment is easiest in small units... where goals and tasks are clearly defined.• All paths and tracks are well defined and mostly signposted; route-finding quite easy.• The clearly defined black spots and red bands of courage that set the rainbow apart from other trout are truly remarkable.• It contrasts with the information needs for operational control which are well defined, detailed and accurate.• The objectives of the western operations would have to be clearly defined from the start.• It is for this reason that technical terms be clearly defined in this section of the proposal.• It appeared to roll forward and unfold under its own natural momentum, to reach its clearly defined objectives.• At the beginning of each year a timetable is prepared and each year group follows a clearly defined, predetermined curriculum.sharply defined• Within this framework, every character is sharply defined.• It was a wrenching moment for Feingold: He stood sharply defined against a background that was all too schematic.• His nose was long and straight and his mouth was sharply defined and beautifully shaped.• Zoologists today might not agree that the division is quite so sharply defined as Wallace suggested.• The cloud bases are fairly sharply defined because of the steady decrease of temperature with altitude.• In fact there are some nice examples of mixes of higher education and new technology thriving in sharply defined cultural niches.• Only she, and you as her parents, have any sharply defined reality.• Differs from marsh terns in winter by square white tail, smoky underwing and no sharply defined white shoulder.• Leung draws his pictures with lines that are sharply defined , with clean angles and shadows.Origin define (1300-1400) Old French definer, from Latin definire, from finire “to limit, end”

Quizzes

Take our quick quizzes to practise your vocabulary.
We have thousands of six-question quizzes to try.
Choose from collocations, synonyms, phrasal verbs and more.

Pictures of the day

What are these?

Click on the pictures to check.

Explore topics

See all topics

Word of the day consciously in a way that involves you noticing or realizing something

Verb table

define

Simple Form
Present
I, you, we, they	define
he, she, it	defines
> View More
Past
I, you, he, she, it, we, they	defined
Present perfect
I, you, we, they	have defined
he, she, it	has defined
Past perfect
I, you, he, she, it, we, they	had defined
Future
I, you, he, she, it, we, they	will define
Future perfect
I, you, he, she, it, we, they	will have defined
> View Less

Continuous Form
Present
I	am defining
he, she, it	is defining
> View More
you, we, they	are defining
Past
I, he, she, it	was defining
you, we, they	were defining
Present perfect
I, you, we, they	have been defining
he, she, it	has been defining
Past perfect
I, you, he, she, it, we, they	had been defining
Future
I, you, he, she, it, we, they	will be defining
Future perfect
I, you, he, she, it, we, they	will have been defining
> View Less