English Dictionary

Definition of “classify

classify (ˈklæsɪˌfaɪPronunciation for classify

Definitions

verb

(tr)
  1. to arrange or order by classes; categorize
  2. government to declare (information, documents, etc) of possible aid to an enemy and therefore not available to people outside a restricted group

Alternative Forms

ˈclassiˌfiable adjective ˈclassiˌfier noun

Word Origin

C18: back formation from classification

Usage examples

  • If I were a Jungian, which I am not, I would probably classify you as the introverted, thinking type.
    Peter Robinson, AFTERMATH (2001)
  • To classify TQM as a line or a staff function is, in my view, naive.
    Business Today (1998)
  • He also ruled President George W. Bush had no authority to classify inmates as ``enemy combatants'.
    The Advertiser, Sunday Mail (2004)
  • One of our dominant urges as we achieve sentience is to classify.
    Times, Sunday Times (2005)
  • We collect and classify the artificial and natural products of every known country and civilisation.
    Page, Russell, The Education of a Gardener (1994)

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