define

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B2 — Upper-Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. verb determine the essential quality of
  2. verb give a definition for the meaning of a word
  3. verb determine the nature of

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”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

specify, delineate, delimit, delimitate

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