English Dictionary

Definition of “deduce

deduce (dɪˈdjuːsPronunciation for deduce

Definitions

verb (tr)

  1. (may take a clause as object) to reach (a conclusion about something) by reasoning; conclude (that); infer
  2. archaic to trace the origin, course, or derivation of

Alternative Forms

deˈducible adjective deˌduciˈbility deˈducibleness noun

Word Origin

C15: from Latin dēdūcere  to lead away, derive, from de- + dūcere to lead

Usage examples

  • We were compelled reluctantly to deduce that trappers had cleaned it out.
    Tony Juniper, SPIX'S MACAW: The Race to Save the World's Rarest Bird (2002)
  • In practice, clinical ethicists rarely work with a single moral theory from which they can deduce unassailable moral ``answers.
    British Medical Journal (2002)
  • Maigret, Poirot, Ellery Queen, Columbo, Miss Marple and the rest, and it is easy to deduce which one is clearly ahead: Sherlock Holmes.
    Australian News Misc (2004)
  • They dig deep, posing big questions, and help the reader to deduce the answers.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • If there were wide variations in the individual measurement of size in a sample what would you deduce about the writer?
    Cameron, Ellen, An Introduction to Graphology (1989)

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