Adjacent Words

Logic definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

LOG'IC, n. [L. id; Gr. from reason, to speak.]
The art of thinking and reasoning justly.
Logic is the art of using reason well in our inquiries after truth, and the communication of it to others.
Logic may be defined, the science or history of the human mind, as it traces the progress of our knowledge from our first conceptions through their different combinations, and the numerous deductions that result from comparing them with one another.
Correct reasoning implies correct thinking and legitimate inferences from premises, which are principles assumed or admitted to be just. Logic then includes the art of thinking, as well as the art of reasoning.
The purpose of logic is to direct the intellectual powers in the investigation of truth, and in the communication of it to others.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: the branch of philosophy that analyzes inference
2: reasoned and reasonable judgment; "it made a certain kind of logic"
3: the principles that guide reasoning within a given field or situation; "economic logic requires it"; "by the logic of war"
4: the system of operations performed by a computer that underlies the machine's representation of logical operations
5: a system of reasoning [syn: logic, logical system, system of logic]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English logik, from Anglo-French, from Latin logica, from Greek logik?, from feminine of logikos of reason, from logos reason — more at legend Date: 12th century 1. a. (1) a science that deals with the principles and criteria of validity of inference and demonstration ; the science of the formal principles of reasoning (2) a branch or variety of logic <modal logic> <Boolean logic> (3) a branch of semiotic; especially syntactics (4) the formal principles of a branch of knowledge b. (1) a particular mode of reasoning viewed as valid or faulty (2) relevance, propriety c. interrelation or sequence of facts or events when seen as inevitable or predictable d. the arrangement of circuit elements (as in a computer) needed for computation; also the circuits themselves 2. something that forces a decision apart from or in opposition to reason <the logic of war> • logician noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 a the science of reasoning, proof, thinking, or inference. b a particular scheme of or treatise on this. 2 a a chain of reasoning (I don't follow your logic). b the correct or incorrect use of reasoning (your logic is flawed). c ability in reasoning (argues with great learning and logic). d arguments (is not governed by logic). 3 a the inexorable force or compulsion of a thing (the logic of events). b the necessary consequence of (an argument, decision, etc.). 4 a a system or set of principles underlying the arrangements of elements in a computer or electronic device so as to perform a specified task. b logical operations collectively. Derivatives: logician n. Etymology: ME f. OF logique f. LL logica f. Gk logike (tekhne) (art) of reason: see LOGOS

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Logic Log"ic, n. [OE. logike, F. logique, L. logica, logice, Gr. logikh` (sc. te`chnh), fr. logiko`s belonging to speaking or reason, fr. lo`gos speech, reason, le`gein to say, speak. See Legend.] 1. The science or art of exact reasoning, or of pure and formal thought, or of the laws according to which the processes of pure thinking should be conducted; the science of the formation and application of general notions; the science of generalization, judgment, classification, reasoning, and systematic arrangement; correct reasoning.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

1. Logic is a method of reasoning that involves a series of statements, each of which must be true if the statement before it is true. Apart from criminal investigation techniques, students learn forensic medicine, philosophy and logic. 2. The logic of a conclusion or an argument is its quality of being correct and reasonable. I don't follow the logic of your argument... There would be no logic in upsetting the agreements. N-UNCOUNT: oft N of n 3. A particular kind of logic is the way of thinking and reasoning about things that is characteristic of a particular type of person or particular field of activity. The plan was based on sound commercial logic. N-UNCOUNT: with supp, oft adj N

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. 1. Science of reasoning, science of the laws of thought, analysis of the process of reasoning. 2. Dialectics. reasoning.

Moby Thesaurus

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