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Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
abstract adj 1 referring to something which exists only as an idea or quality. 2 concerned with ideas and theory rather than with things which really exist or could exist. 3 said of an art form, especially painting: that represents the subject by shapes and patterns, etc rather than in the shape or form it actually has. Compare concrete adj 2 4 grammar said of a noun: denoting a quality, condition or action rather than a physical thing. Compare concrete adj 4. noun 1 a brief statement of the main points (of a book, speech, etc). 2 an abstract idea, theory, etc. 3 an example of abstract painting, etc. verb (abstracted, abstracting) 1 to take out or remove something. 2 to summarize (a book, speech, etc). 3 to generalize about something from particular instances. abstractly adverb. abstractness noun. in the abstract in theory rather than in reality.
ETYMOLOGY: 14c, meaning 'derived': from Latin abs away or from + trahere to draw.
abstract adj 1 referring to something which exists only as an idea or quality. 2 concerned with ideas and theory rather than with things which really exist or could exist. 3 said of an art form, especially painting: that represents the subject by shapes and patterns, etc rather than in the shape or form it actually has. Compare concrete adj 2 4 grammar said of a noun: denoting a quality, condition or action rather than a physical thing. Compare concrete adj 4. noun 1 a brief statement of the main points (of a book, speech, etc). 2 an abstract idea, theory, etc. 3 an example of abstract painting, etc. verb (abstracted, abstracting) 1 to take out or remove something. 2 to summarize (a book, speech, etc). 3 to generalize about something from particular instances. abstractly adverb. abstractness noun. in the abstract in theory rather than in reality.
ETYMOLOGY: 14c, meaning 'derived': from Latin abs away or from + trahere to draw.
abstract adj 1 referring to something which exists only as an idea or quality. 2 concerned with ideas and theory rather than with things which really exist or could exist. 3 said of an art form, especially painting: that represents the subject by shapes and patterns, etc rather than in the shape or form it actually has. Compare concrete adj 2 4 grammar said of a noun: denoting a quality, condition or action rather than a physical thing. Compare concrete adj 4. noun 1 a brief statement of the main points (of a book, speech, etc). 2 an abstract idea, theory, etc. 3 an example of abstract painting, etc. verb (abstracted, abstracting) 1 to take out or remove something. 2 to summarize (a book, speech, etc). 3 to generalize about something from particular instances. abstractly adverb. abstractness noun. in the abstract in theory rather than in reality.
ETYMOLOGY: 14c, meaning 'derived': from Latin abs away or from + trahere to draw.
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The Chambers Dictionary (13th edition)
“Chambers is the one I keep at my right hand”- Philip Pullman.
The unrivalled dictionary for word lovers, now in its 13th edition.
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The Chambers Thesaurus
The Chambers Thesaurus (4th Edition) is a veritable treasure-trove, including the greatest selection of alternative words and phrases available in an A to Z format. -
Chambers Biographical Dictionary
“Simply all you need to know about anyone” – Fay Weldon.
Thoroughly revised and updated for its 9th edition.
Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
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