abstract

abstract for adj. [, ab strakt′, ab′strakt΄; ] for n.1 & vt.4 [, ab′strakt΄; ] for n.2 [, ab′strakt΄, ab strakt′; ] for vt.1, 2, & 3 [, ab strakt′]

adj.

[< L abstractus, pp. of abstrahere, to draw from, separate < ab(s)-, from + trahere, to DRAW]

1. thought of apart from any particular instances or material objects; not concrete

2. expressing a quality thought of apart from any particular or material object [beauty is an abstract word]

3. not easy to understand because of being extremely complex, remote from concrete reality, etc.; abstruse

4. theoretical; not practical or applied

5. designating or of art abstracted from reality, in which designs or forms may be definite and geometric or fluid and amorphous: a generic term that encompasses various nonrealistic contemporary schools

n.

1. a brief statement of the essential content of a book, article, speech, court record, etc.; summary

2. an abstract thing, condition, idea, etc.

vt.

1. to take away; remove

2. to take dishonestly; steal

3. to think of (a quality) apart from any particular instance or material object that has it; also, to form (a general idea) from particular instances

4. to summarize; make an abstract of

SYN.- ABRIDGMENT

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in the abstract

in theory as apart from practice

abstracter

n.

abstractly

adv.

abstractness

n.