definition
definition — noun
1. a sentence or short text that tells you what a word or expression means, especia
a sentence or short text that tells you what a word or expression means, especially the one you find in a dictionary
The dictionary's definition of 'courage' was too short to be helpful.
definition + of + [abstract noun]
Cyrus looked up the definition of 'photosynthesis' for his biology homework.
Can you give me a clear definition of what 'sustainable' means in this article?
The teacher asked Bao to write his own definition of 'freedom' for the class.
Some common English words have more than one definition listed in the dictionary.
- meaning
broader — covers what something conveys, not only dictionary explanations
- explanation
can cover processes and reasons, not restricted to word meanings
- gloss
a brief or explanatory definition, often between the lines of a text
文法句型
definition + of + [word/phrase]
look up + the definition of + [word]
常見錯誤
2. a clear description of what something is by stating its most important qualities
a clear description of what something is by stating its most important qualities or its limits — for example, how a law decides who counts as an employee
There is no single agreed definition of what makes an effective leader.
no single agreed definition of [abstract concept]
The legal definition of 'employee' varies from one country to the next.
legal definition of [term]
Lisa struggled to understand the legal definition of 'employee' in her contract.
Scientists continue to debate the definition of intelligence and how to measure it.
Under the government's definition, a small business must have fewer than fifty staff.
- description
more general — may list features without setting firm boundaries
- delineation
formal — emphasizes the act of marking limits precisely
- specification
technical — focuses on exact requirements or criteria
文法句型
definition + of + [abstract concept]
[possessive] + definition of + [noun]
by + [someone's] + definition
用法筆記
Common with possessives ('the government's definition', 'our definition') or adjectives describing the field ('legal definition', 'medical definition'). Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 explains the meaning of a word; sense 2 describes the boundaries or essential nature of a concept, often in a specific field or context.
常見錯誤
3. used to say that something is necessarily true because of the very nature of the
used to say that something is necessarily true because of the very nature of the thing itself — if you understand what the thing is, this fact follows automatically
A circle is, by definition, a perfectly round shape with no corners.
by definition [comma] + formal definition of a category
Shirin's nursing job is by definition demanding, but she reads to her daughter each night.
A vegetarian, by definition, does not eat meat or fish.
By definition, a community garden is a shared green space where local residents grow vegetables and flowers together.
An orphanage is by definition a home for children without living parents.
- necessarily
more general — does not carry the sense of 'by its very nature'
- essentially
overlaps in meaning but is less formal and less precise
- inherently
formal — suggests a quality built into something's character
文法句型
by definition, + [clause stating inherent property]
[noun] + is + by definition + [adjective/noun phrase]
用法筆記
Only used in the fixed phrase 'by definition'. The phrase is usually set off by commas or placed at the start of the sentence, followed by a characteristic that cannot be separated from the thing being described.
常見錯誤
4. the degree of sharpness and detail in a picture, video, or sound recording — how
the degree of sharpness and detail in a picture, video, or sound recording — how clearly you can see edges, shapes, or hear individual sounds
This television has excellent picture definition even in a bright room.
picture definition + [adjective]
The definition on the old video was too poor to make out people's faces.
Modern cameras offer much better definition than models from ten years ago.
Gabriel adjusted the definition setting on his camera to capture sharper images.
The sound definition on these headphones is surprisingly clear for the price.
- clarity
broader — can describe text, thoughts, or explanations
- sharpness
narrower — mainly visual, emphasizes edge contrast
- resolution
technical — refers to pixel count or detail capacity, not perceived sharpness
- blurriness
lack of visual sharpness
- fuzziness
unclear outlines, lack of crisp detail
文法句型
[adjective] + definition
picture / image / sound + definition
用法筆記
Frequently modified by adjectives of quality: 'high', 'low', 'poor', 'excellent', 'superb'. Used for both visual clarity (pictures, video) and audio clarity (sound reproduction). Think of it as a technical quality measure, not an opinion ('good' vs 'bad' are less common here than 'high' vs 'low').
常見錯誤
5. the quality of having muscles that stand out clearly under the skin, usually fro
the quality of having muscles that stand out clearly under the skin, usually from regular exercise and low body fat
Hugo works out every day to improve the definition in his arms.
improve definition in [body part]
The bodybuilder's muscle definition was clearly visible under the bright stage lights.
Yumi does weight training to get better definition in her shoulders and legs.
Good muscle definition requires both low body fat and regular strength training.
Femi had impressive shoulder and back definition after years of competitive swimming.
- muscle tone
broader — includes firmness and tension, not just visual separation
- delineation
formal — the visible separation between muscle groups
- muscle cut
informal slang — common in bodybuilding communities
- flabbiness
lack of muscle firmness
- softness
absence of visible muscle separation
文法句型
[body part] + definition
definition + in + [body part]
definition + of + [body part]
用法筆記
Common in fitness, bodybuilding, and sports contexts. Uncountable — you cannot say 'a definition' or 'definitions' for this sense. Colloquial alternatives include 'muscle tone' (less sharp visual separation) and 'muscle cut' (very informal, bodybuilding slang).
常見錯誤
6. the process or act of explaining exactly what a word, idea, or concept means — n
the process or act of explaining exactly what a word, idea, or concept means — not the result itself, but the work of doing it
The definition of key terms is the first step in writing a research paper.
definition of [terms] as a process
A clear definition of the problem helps the team find a better solution.
Paloma spent a whole afternoon on the definition of each term in her essay.
Definition of the project goals came before any actual planning began.
Part of the consultant's job involved the definition of each team member's role.
- clarification
broader — can mean making anything clearer, not just by defining
- delineation
formal — emphasizes marking boundaries, not just explaining meaning
- determination
more about deciding than explaining
文法句型
the definition of + [word/concept]
[possessive] + definition of + [term]
用法筆記
Often followed by 'of' + the thing being defined. Commonly used in academic, business, and professional contexts to describe the initial phase of establishing scope. Frequently occurs paired with verbs like 'involve', 'require', 'begin with'. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 is the product (the dictionary entry); sense 6 is the process.
常見錯誤
7. an individual or object whose qualities make it a perfect illustration of its ki
an individual or object whose qualities make it a perfect illustration of its kind — the best possible model of what that type is
Sade's kindness to strangers was the very definition of compassion.
the very definition of [abstract quality]
That old house with a leaking roof is the definition of a fixer-upper.
To many people around the world, Paris is the definition of romance.
The nervous job applicant was the very definition of confidence on the outside.
To Anna, the cottage by the lake was the definition of peace and quiet.
- epitome
formal — 'the epitome of' means the perfect example of a quality
- embodiment
suggests living representation, not just an example
- personification
only for people — suggests someone who perfectly represents an abstract idea
- quintessence
formal — the purest or most perfect form of something
文法句型
the very definition of + [noun]
the definition of + [noun]
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the fixed pattern 'the (very) definition of [noun]'. Adding 'very' before 'definition' adds emphasis and is extremely common in this sense. The noun following 'of' can be abstract ('courage', 'elegance') or concrete ('a fixer-upper', 'a disaster'). Singular only — do not use plural ('definitions') for this sense.