Ramifications: showing how the term or concept affects people or objects.

Environment or sector: pointing out how and where something is used.

Evoking the senses: using a word that creates a picture in the reader's mind so that the reader might relate through memory of sound, sight, touch, hearing, or smell.

Negation: defining a term by explaining what the concept is not.

Examples or anecdotes A brief, interesting story that writers often use to demonstrate a point within a work.: telling a story or example that illustrates the term.

Etymology The study of the origins of words where the meaning of a word comes from.: sharing a word's origin.

Listing and describing the parts: identifying smaller, more familiar pieces of an idea to point to the definition of the bigger concept.

A phrase may or may not form a complete sentence., including the following: However, as the name suggests, the author uses a number of other techniques to define a word, concept, or phrase A set of words that express an idea. generally have components of both informal and formal definitions. introduced by or, in other words, or like.įreedom, also referred to as liberty or independence, is a state people reach when they are free to think and do whatever they please.Įxtended definitions The meaning of an idea or word that has components of both informal and formal definitions, but is presented in a longer, paragraph format. or antonyms A word or phrase that has the opposite meaning from another word. These definitions may be synonyms A word or phrase that has an identical or very similar meaning to another word. These definitions may be synonyms or antonyms introduced by or, in other words, or like., the writer uses known words or examples to explain an unknown term. In an informal definition The meaning of a word that is explained using known words or examples to define an unknown term. In textbooks, you may find the formal definition of terms listed at the beginning, at the end of a chapter, or in the glossary, which is a mini-dictionary of terms relevant to that text.ĭefinition: The power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. Writers often include formal definitions when they are writing about something that may be unfamiliar to their readers. The dictionary is filled with formal definitions, but it is not the only place where you will find them. or characteristics that are specific to that term. or a verb A part of speech that refers to what is happening, the action, what the subject is doing, or how it is “being.” Examples include: sleep, to be, think., and all the traits The specific parts of a person, place, or thing that distinguish it from another. Examples include: swimmer, lake, sunscreen. consists of three parts: the term, the part of speech to which it belongs, such as a noun A part of speech that refers to a person, place, or thing.

This lesson will introduce you to the three different types of definitions: formal, informal, and extended.Ī formal definition The meaning of a word that consists of three parts: the term, the part of speech to which it belongs, and all the traits or characteristics that set it apart from every other item in that class. All definitions attempt to explain or clarify a term.

When writers are trying to explain an unfamiliar idea, they rely on definitions.

Physical notion synonym