Adjacent Words

Method definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

METH'OD, n. [L. methodus; Gr. with, and way.]
1. A suitable and convenient arrangement of things, proceedings or ideas; the natural or regular disposition of separate things or parts; convenient order for transacting business, or for comprehending any complicated subject. Without method, business of any kind will fall into confusion. To carry on farming to advantage, to keep accounts correctly, method is indispensable.
2. Way; manner. Let us know the nature of the disease, and the method of cure.
3. Classification; arrangement of natural bodies according to their common characteristics; as the method of Theophrast; the method of Ray; the Linnean method.
In natural arrangements a distinction is sometimes made between method and system. System is an arrangement founded, throughout all its parts, on some one principle. Method is an arrangement less fixed and determinate, and founded on more general relations. Thus we say, the natural method, and the artificial or sexual system of Linne, though the latter is not a perfect system.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a way of doing something, especially a systematic way; implies an orderly logical arrangement (usually in steps)
2: an acting technique introduced by Stanislavsky in which the actor recalls emotions or reactions from his or her own life and uses them to identify with the character being portrayed [syn: method acting, method]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English, prescribed treatment, from Latin methodus, from Greek methodos, from meta- + hodos way Date: 15th century 1. a procedure or process for attaining an object: as a. (1) a systematic procedure, technique, or mode of inquiry employed by or proper to a particular discipline or art (2) a systematic plan followed in presenting material for instruction b. (1) a way, technique, or process of or for doing something (2) a body of skills or techniques 2. a discipline that deals with the principles and techniques of scientific inquiry 3. a. orderly arrangement, development, or classification ; plan b. the habitual practice of orderliness and regularity 4. capitalized a dramatic technique by which an actor seeks to gain complete identification with the inner personality of the character being portrayed Synonyms: method, mode, manner, way, fashion, system mean the means taken or procedure followed in achieving an end. method implies an orderly logical arrangement usually in steps <effective teaching methods>. mode implies an order or course followed by custom, tradition, or personal preference <the preferred mode of transportation>. manner is close to mode but may imply a procedure or method that is individual or distinctive <an odd manner of conducting>. way is very general and may be used for any of the preceding words <has her own way of doing things>. fashion may suggest a peculiar or characteristic way of doing something <rushing about in his typical fashion>. system suggests a fully developed or carefully formulated method often emphasizing rational orderliness <a filing system>.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 a special form of procedure esp. in any branch of mental activity. 2 orderliness; regular habits. 3 the orderly arrangement of ideas. 4 a scheme of classification. 5 Theatr. a technique of acting based on the actor's thorough emotional identification with the character. Phrases and idioms: method in one's madness sense in what appears to be foolish or strange behaviour. Etymology: F méthode or L methodus f. Gk methodos pursuit of knowledge (as META-, hodos way)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Method Meth"od, n. [F. m['e]thode, L. methodus, fr. Gr. meqodos method, investigation following after; meta` after + "odo`s way.] 1. An orderly procedure or process; regular manner of doing anything; hence, manner; way; mode; as, a method of teaching languages; a method of improving the mind. --Addison. 2. Orderly arrangement, elucidation, development, or classification; clear and lucid exhibition; systematic arrangement peculiar to an individual. Though this be madness, yet there's method in it. --Shak. All method is a rational progress, a progress toward an end. --Sir W. Hamilton. 3. (Nat. Hist.) Classification; a mode or system of classifying natural objects according to certain common characteristics; as, the method of Theophrastus; the method of Ray; the Linn[ae]an method. Syn: Order; system; rule; regularity; way; manner; mode; course; process; means. Usage: Method, Mode, Manner. Method implies arrangement; mode, mere action or existence. Method is a way of reaching a given end by a series of acts which tend to sec?re it; mode relates to a single action, or to the form which a series of acts, viewed as a whole, exhibits. Manner is literally the handling of a thing, and has a wider sense, embracing both method and mode. An instructor may adopt a good method of teaching to write; the scholar may acquire a bad mode of holding his pen; the manner in which he is corrected will greatly affect his success or failure.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(methods) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. A method is a particular way of doing something. The pill is the most efficient method of birth control. ...new teaching methods... N-COUNT: oft N of n/-ing

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. 1. Way (viewed theoretically), mode, manner, process, course, means, rule, modus operandi. 2. Arrangement, system, classification, orderly disposition. 3. Order, regularity, system, rule.

Moby Thesaurus

MO, ability, action, actions, activity, acts, address, affectation, air, algorithm, anality, apple-pie order, approach, arrangement, art, avenue, behavior, behavior pattern, behavioral norm, behavioral science, blueprint, blueprinting, calculation, capacity, capital, carriage, charting, comportment, conception, conduct, contrivance, course, craft, culture pattern, custom, demeanor, deportment, design, device, devices, discipline, disposable resources, disposition, doing, doings, enterprise, envisagement, fashion, figuring, fine fettle, folkway, foresight, forethought, form, funds, game, gestures, goings-on, good condition, good shape, good trim, graphing, ground plan, guidelines, guise, idea, intention, layout, line, line of action, lines, lineup, long-range plan, maintien, manner, manner of working, manners, mapping, master plan, means, mechanics, mechanism, methodicalness, methodology, methods, mien, mode, mode of operation, mode of procedure, modus, modus operandi, modus vivendi, motions, movements, moves, neatness, observable behavior, operations research, order, orderliness, organization, pattern, plan, planning, planning function, poise, port, pose, posture, power, practice, praxis, prearrangement, presence, procedure, proceeding, process, program, program of action, rationalization, recourses, regularity, resorts, resources, road, route, routine, schedule, schema, schematism, schematization, scheme, scheme of arrangement, science, setup, skill, social science, stock, strategic plan, strategy, structure, style, supply, system, systematicness, systematization, tack, tactical plan, tactics, technic, technical know-how, technical knowledge, technical skill, technics, technique, technology, the big picture, the drill, the how, the picture, the way of, tidiness, tone, trimness, way, way of life, ways, ways and means, wherewith, wherewithal, wise, working plan, wrinkle