define /dɪˈfaɪn/verb 7noun 1forms 5 verb7 •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.Person 1: Is she good at math? Person 2: Define "good." If you mean if she is faster than the average middle schooler at multiplication, then yes. If you mean if she is able to do multivariable calculus, then no. •To establish the referent of a term or notation. •To express the essential nature of something.I define myself as a techno-anarchist.Your past mistakes do not define who you are. •To determine with precision; to mark out with distinctness; to ascertain or exhibit clearly.Rings[…]very distinct and well defined. — 1704 •To demark sharply the outlines or limits of an area or concept.Neither Marx nor Engels ever clearly defined the concept of class, and the last chapter of Volume III of Capital, which was to treat of this question, breaks off after three or four paragraphs. — 1978 •(no longer used) To settle, decide (an argument etc.).These warlike Champions, all in armour shine, / Assembled were in field the chalenge to define. — 1596 noun1 •A kind of macro in source code that replaces one text string with another wherever it occurs.Anyone who has attempted to do OO programming in a conventional language using defines will find out that it is impossible to realize the benefits easily, if at all, without compiler support. — 1999 formsdefined · defining · defines · defineth · definest
