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WordBand 4.5–5.5Core (NGSL)
define
/dɪˈfaɪn/
verb1 of 2
to explain the meaning of words
- “A man is defined by his actions, not his words.”Tatoeba
- “What defines us is how well we arise after falling.”Tatoeba
Sentences from Tatoeba show real usage. A word can have several meanings, so a sentence may use another one.
noun2 of 2
A kind of macro in source code that replaces one text string with another wherever it occurs.
Topics
Related words
More in Academic writing →
stabiliseverbTo stop changing and stay at a steady level.
bedrocknounThe solid base on which something is built.
bottlenecknounA narrow point that slows down the whole process.
fragmentationnounThe breaking of something whole into small separate parts.
escalateverbTo become greater or more serious step by step.
soarverbTo rise quickly to a very high level.
deal withPhrasal verbTo handle a problem or situation.
plungeverbTo drop suddenly and by a large amount.
Source: New General Service List (Browne, Culligan & Phillips) (CC BY-SA 4.0); Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0); Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR)