verb🔗ShareTo determine with precision; to mark out with distinctness; to ascertain or exhibit clearly."the defining power of an optical instrument"languagewritingcommunicationChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
verb🔗ShareTo settle, decide (an argument etc.)"The judge's ruling was defining the outcome of the court case. "lawpoliticsgovernmentChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
verb🔗ShareTo express the essential nature of something."I define myself as a techno-anarchist."languagelinguisticsphilosophyChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
verb🔗ShareTo state the meaning of a word, phrase, sign, or symbol."The textbook defined speed as velocity divided by time."languagecommunicationlinguisticswordwritingChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
verb🔗ShareTo 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."Person 1: Is she good at math?"languagelinguisticswordcommunicationChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
verb🔗ShareTo demark sharply the outlines or limits of an area or concept."to define the legal boundaries of a property"languagewordlinguisticsChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
verb🔗ShareTo establish the referent of a term or notation."In math class, the teacher spent the first hour defining what a "variable" means before we could solve equations. "languagelinguisticscommunicationwritingwordlogicChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
adjective🔗ShareServing to define or distinguish."The ability to reproduce is a defining characteristic of living organisms."languagelinguisticsChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
