abstraction
noun
Simple meaning
Focusing on one characteristic of an object rather than the object as a whole group of characteristics.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
abstrakshuhnSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
æbstˈɹækʃən
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
The act of focusing on one characteristic of an object rather than the object as a whole group of characteristics; the act of separating said qualities from the object or ideas.
An idea or notion of an abstract or theoretical nature.
The act of abstracting, separating, withdrawing, or taking away; withdrawal; the state of being taken away.
The act of withdrawing or removing something
An abstract painting
A separation from worldly objects; a recluse life; the withdrawal from one's senses.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- B2 · Upper Intermediate (estimated)
- Frequency
- Moderately Common
- Formality
- Technical
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: The act of focusing on one characteristic of an object rather than the object as a whole group of characteristics; the act of separating said qualities from the object or ideas.
'Abstraction' in this sense is about mentally pulling out certain qualities from a whole, like focusing on 'redness' rather than the 'red apple.' It's a key concept in philosophy and computer science, describing how we simplify complex ideas or systems.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- Matter-of-fact
- Usage feel
- Neutral and straightforward
Where you'll really hear it
Philosophy Class
“The concept of 'justice' is an important philosophical abstraction.”
Computer Science Lecture
“Software design uses abstraction to manage complexity effectively.”
Cognitive Psychology
“Human thought relies heavily on abstraction to form categories.”
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin
Synonyms
Sense: focusing on one characteristic of an object rather than the object as a whole group of characteristics
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