Adjacent Words

Definite definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

DEFINITE, a.
1. Having certain limits; bounded with precision; determinate; as a definite extent of land; definite dimensions; definite measure.
2. Having certain limits in signification; determinate; certain; precise; as a definite word, term or expression.
3. Fixed; determinate; exact; precise; as a definite time or period.
4. Defining; limiting; determining the extent; as a definite word.
DEFINITE, n. Thing defined.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: precise; explicit and clearly defined; "I want a definite answer"; "a definite statement of the terms of the will"; "a definite amount"; "definite restrictions on the sale of alcohol"; "the wedding date is now definite"; "a definite drop in attendance" [ant: indefinite]
2: known for certain; "it is definite that they have won"

Merriam Webster's

adjective Etymology: Latin definitus, past participle of definire Date: 1553 1. having distinct or certain limits <set definite standards for pupils to meet> 2. a. free of all ambiguity, uncertainty, or obscurity <demanded a definite answer> b. unquestionable, decided <the quarterback was a definite hero today> 3. typically designating an identified or immediately identifiable person or thing <the definite article the> 4. a. of floral organs being constant in number, usually less than 20, and occurring in multiples of the petal number <stamens definite> b. cymose <a definite inflorescence> Synonyms: see explicit • definitely adverb • definiteness noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj. 1 having exact and discernible limits. 2 clear and distinct; not vague. Usage: See the note at definitive. Phrases and idioms: definite article see ARTICLE. definite integral see INTEGRAL. Derivatives: definiteness n. Etymology: L definitus past part. of definire (as DEFINE)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Definite Def"i*nite, n. A thing defined or determined. [Obs.]

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Definite Def"i*nite, a. [L. definitis, p. p. of definire: cf. F. d['e]fini. See Define.] 1. Having certain or distinct; determinate in extent or greatness; limited; fixed; as, definite dimensions; a definite measure; a definite period or interval. Elements combine in definite proportions. --Whewell. 2. Having certain limits in signification; determinate; certain; precise; fixed; exact; clear; as, a definite word, term, or expression. 3. Determined; resolved. [Obs.] --Shak. 4. Serving to define or restrict; limiting; determining; as, the definite article. Definite article (Gram.), the article the, which is used to designate a particular person or thing, or a particular class of persons or things; -- also called a definitive. See Definitive, n. - Definite inflorescence. (Bot.) See Determinate inflorescence, under Determinate. Law of definite proportions (Chem.), the essential law of chemical combination that every definite compound always contains the same elements in the same proportions by weight; and, if two or more elements form more than one compound with each other, the relative proportions of each are fixed. Compare Law of multiple proportions, under Multiple.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

1. If something such as a decision or an arrangement is definite, it is firm and clear, and unlikely to be changed. It's too soon to give a definite answer... Her Royal Highness has definite views about most things... She made no definite plans for her future. ADJ 2. Definite evidence or information is true, rather than being someone's opinion or guess. We didn't have any definite proof... ADJ: usu ADJ n 3. You use definite to emphasize the strength of your opinion or belief. There has already been a definite improvement... That's a very definite possibility. = real ADJ: ADJ n [emphasis] 4. Someone who is definite behaves or talks in a firm, confident way. Mary is very definite about this. ADJ

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

a. 1. Determinate, determined, defined, precisely bounded. 2. Precise, exact, determinate, certain. 3. (Gram.) Limiting, defining.

Moby Thesaurus

absolute, admitting no exception, all-out, apodictic, articulate, assigned, assured, audible, bound, bound and determined, categorical, certain, circumscribed, circumscript, clean-cut, clear, clear and distinct, clear as crystal, clear as day, clear-cut, coherent, committed, complete, conclusive, concrete, confirmed, connected, consistent, conspicuous, contrastive, crisp, crystal-clear, crystalline, decided, decisive, dedicated, defined, definitive, delimited, demarcated, detailed, determinate, determined, devoted, different, direct, distinct, distinctive, distinguished, downright, earnest, encircled, entire, esoteric, especial, established, evident, exact, exceptional, explicit, express, extraordinary, final, fixed, flat, flat-out, forthright, full, glaring, global, hearable, hedged about, hi-fi, high-fidelity, implicit, in focus, inappealable, incisive, indisputable, individual, ineluctable, inevitable, inner, intimate, limited, limpid, loud and clear, lucid, luminous, minute, narrow, necessary, noteworthy, obstinate, obvious, out-and-out, outright, particular, patent, pellucid, peremptory, perfect, perfectly sure, persevering, persistent, personal, perspicuous, plain, positive, precise, predestined, predetermined, prescribed, private, prominent, pronounced, purposeful, relentless, resolute, resolved, respective, restricted, round, serious, set, settled, several, simple, sincere, single-minded, singular, solipsistic, special, specific, staring, stated, straight, straight-out, straightforward, sure, sure-enough, surrounded, tenacious, total, translucent, transparent, transpicuous, true, unambiguous, uncircumscribed, unconditional, unconditioned, unconfused, undoubting, unequivocal, unhampered, unhesitating, univocal, unlimited, unmistakable, unmitigated, unqualified, unquestioning, unreserved, unrestricted, unwaivable, utter, well-defined, well-marked, well-pronounced, well-resolved, whole, wholehearted, without exception, without reserve