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abstract

Definition

  • noun: a brief written statement of the main points or facts in a longer report, speech, etc.
  • noun: a summary of points (as of a writing) usually presented in skeletal form
  • verb: to consider apart from application to or association with a particular instance
  • verb: to make a summary of the main parts of (a report, speech, etc.)
  • adjective: relating to or involving general ideas or qualities rather than specific people, objects, or actions
  • adjective: disassociated from any specific instance
  • synonyms: abstruse, remove, summary

Examples

  • She accused him of 'abstracting' [='pinching'] some money from her purse.

  • The word “poem” is concrete, the word “poetry” is 'abstract'.

  • Data for the study was 'abstracted from' hospital records.

Movie clips

Movie quotes

  • (..) right into the production. Can you imagine that in a classical ballet? A dancer intentionally falling? There's a whole new word for dance now, it's called abstract. He's not the only one though, there's Lincoln Kirstein, and Lucia Chase and Agnes DeMille... she has just torn up (..)
    2008 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button