abstraction (æbˈstrækʃən
)
Definitions
noun
- absence of mind; preoccupation
- the process of formulating generalized ideas or concepts by extracting common qualities from specific examples
- an idea or concept formulated in this way ⇒
good and evil are abstractions
- logic an operator that forms a class name or predicate from any given expression See also lambda calculus
- an abstract painting, sculpture, etc
- the act of withdrawing or removing
Alternative Forms
abˈstractive adjective abˈstractively adverbSynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
concept,
thought,
idea,
view,
theory,
impression,
formula,
notion,
hypothesis,
generalization,
theorem,
generality,
=
absent-mindedness,
musing,
preoccupation,
daydreaming,
vagueness,
remoteness,
absence,
inattention,
dreaminess,
obliviousness,
absence of mind
pensiveness,
woolgathering,
distractedness,
bemusedness
Usage examples
He would say something in slow abstraction , then he would think, and then he would say something more.
, The Complete Stories Volume 2 (1995)The argument is cultural as well as geographical in which India is an undesirable abstraction.
India Today (2000)In a way, these paintings and prints have taken Berger onto the edges of abstraction , without losing her foothold on the subject.
The Mercury, Sunday Tasmanian (2005)But in truth Germany, for their visiting President, is largely an abstraction.
Times, Sunday Times (2005)Another successful abstraction was the idea of gravity in Newton's work.
, The Chomsky Update - Linguistics and Politics (1990)