define

• POS: Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: de=fine

OXFORD DICTIONARY

define, v.tr.
1 give the exact meaning of (a word etc.).
2 describe or explain the scope of (define one's position).
3 make clear, esp. in outline (well-defined image).
4 mark out the boundary or limits of.
5 (of properties) make up the total character of.

Derivative

definable adj. definer n.

Etymology

ME f. OF definer ult. f. L definire (as DE-, finire finish, f. finis end)

THESAURUS

define

assign, baptize, be characteristic, bed, blaze, blaze a trail, blemish, blotch, bound, brand, call, chalk, chalk up, characterize, check, check off, christen, cicatrize, circle in, circumscribe, clarify, confirm, construe, dapple, dash, deep-dye, delimit, delimitate, delineate, demarcate, denominate, describe, designate, detail, determine, diagnose, differentiate, discolor, distinguish, dot, dub, earmark, edge, embed, enclose, engraft, engrave, entitle, entrench, establish, etch, explain, expound, fix, fleck, found, freckle, gash, ground, hatch, hem, identify, impact, implant, impress, imprint, infix, ingrain, inscribe, interpret, jam, keynote, label, lay down, lay off, limit, line, lodge, make a mark, margin, mark, mark boundaries, mark off, mark out, mark the periphery, mottle, name, nick, nickname, nominate, notch, outline, pack, pencil, pepper, plant, point, prick, print, punch, punctuate, puncture, read, read into, riddle, rim, root, rope off, scar, scarify, score, scotch, scratch, seal, seam, seat, set, set apart, set down, set in, set the limit, set the pace, set the tone, settle, skirt, sound the keynote, specify, speck, speckle, spell out, splotch, spot, stain, stake out, stamp, state, stereotype, stigmatize, streak, striate, stripe, style, surround, tag, take, take it that, take to mean, tattoo, term, tick, tick off, title, trace, underline, underscore, understand, understand by, verge, wedge

ROGET THESAURUS

define

Nomenclature

VB name, call, term, denominate designate, style, entitle, clepe, dub, christen, baptize, characterize, specify, define, distinguish by the name of, label, be called, take the name of, bean the name of, go by the name of, be known by the name of, go under the name of, pass under the name of, rejoice in the name of.

Interpretation

VB interpret, explain, define, construe, translate, render, do into, turn into, transfuse the sense of, find out, 1 the meaning of, read, spell out, make out, decipher, unravel, disentangle, find the key of, enucleate, resolve, solve, read between the lines, account for, find the cause, tell the cause of, throw light upon, shed light upon, shed new light upon, shed fresh light upon, clear up, clarify, elucidate, illustrate, exemplify, unfold, expound, comment upon, annotate, popularize, take in a particular sense, understand in a particular sense, receive in a particular sense, accept in a particular sense, understand by, put a construction on, be given to understand.