definition

/ˌdefɪˈnɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌdefɪˈnɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌde-fə-ˈni-shən/ (ame, mw)

definition — 名詞

  • definitionsingular
  • definitionsplural

1. a sentence or short text that tells you what a word or expression means, especia

1.名詞A2
釋義

定義；釋義

解釋單字或片語意思的文字

a sentence or short text that tells you what a word or expression means, especially the one you find in a dictionary

例句

The dictionary's definition of 'courage' was too short to be helpful.

字典對『勇氣』的定義太過簡短，沒什麼幫助。

definition + of + [abstract noun]

Cyrus looked up the definition of 'photosynthesis' for his biology homework.

Cyrus 為了生物作業查了『光合作用』的定義。

同義詞
  • meaning

    broader — covers what something conveys, not only dictionary explanations

  • explanation

    can cover processes and reasons, not restricted to word meanings

  • gloss

    a brief or explanatory definition, often between the lines of a text

文法句型

definition + of + [word/phrase]

look up + the definition of + [word]

常見錯誤

❌I looked up the define of this word.
✅I looked up the definition of this word.
💡'define' is a verb; 'definition' is the noun form.
❌What is the define of this term?
✅What is the definition of this term?
💡Use 'definition', not 'define', as the noun.

2. a clear description of what something is by stating its most important qualities

2.名詞B2
釋義

界定；範疇

描述事物本質或範圍的說明

a clear description of what something is by stating its most important qualities or its limits — for example, how a law decides who counts as an employee

例句

There is no single agreed definition of what makes an effective leader.

對於什麼是有效的領導者，目前還沒有公認的定義。

no single agreed definition of [abstract concept]

The legal definition of 'employee' varies from one country to the next.

『員工』的法律定義各國不盡相同。

legal definition of [term]

同義詞
  • description

    more general — may list features without setting firm boundaries

  • delineation

    formal — emphasizes the act of marking limits precisely

  • specification

    technical — focuses on exact requirements or criteria

文法句型

definition + of + [abstract concept]

[possessive] + definition of + [noun]

by + [someone's] + definition

用法筆記

Common with possessives ('the government's definition', 'our definition') or adjectives describing the field ('legal definition', 'medical definition'). Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 explains the meaning of a word; sense 2 describes the boundaries or essential nature of a concept, often in a specific field or context.

常見錯誤

❌This is only his define of success.
✅This is only his definition of success.
💡Use 'definition', not 'define'.
❌The definition of intelligence is debatable.' (correct as is, but Taiwanese learners often add an unnecessary article: 'The definition of intelligence is the debatable.
✅The definition of intelligence is debatable.
💡No article before 'debatable'.)

3. used to say that something is necessarily true because of the very nature of the

3.名詞B2
釋義

本質上；必然

根據事物本身的特性必定如此

used to say that something is necessarily true because of the very nature of the thing itself — if you understand what the thing is, this fact follows automatically

例句

A circle is, by definition, a perfectly round shape with no corners.

圓形在本質上就是一個完全圓潤、沒有尖角的形狀。

by definition [comma] + formal definition of a category

Shirin's nursing job is by definition demanding, but she reads to her daughter each night.

Shirin 的護理工作本質上就很繁重，但她每晚都會讀書給女兒聽。

同義詞
  • necessarily

    more general — does not carry the sense of 'by its very nature'

  • essentially

    overlaps in meaning but is less formal and less precise

  • inherently

    formal — suggests a quality built into something's character

文法句型

by definition, + [clause stating inherent property]

[noun] + is + by definition + [adjective/noun phrase]

用法筆記

Only used in the fixed phrase 'by definition'. The phrase is usually set off by commas or placed at the start of the sentence, followed by a characteristic that cannot be separated from the thing being described.

常見錯誤

❌By definition, a bicycle have two wheels.
✅By definition, a bicycle has two wheels.
💡Third-person singular subject needs 'has'.
❌Cats are by definition animals.' (too obvious — 'by definition' is best used for a characteristic that is definitional but not trivial to all readers)
✅A rescue shelter is, by definition, a place for homeless animals.

4. the degree of sharpness and detail in a picture, video, or sound recording — how

4.名詞B1
釋義

清晰度

影像或聲音的清楚程度

the degree of sharpness and detail in a picture, video, or sound recording — how clearly you can see edges, shapes, or hear individual sounds

例句

This television has excellent picture definition even in a bright room.

這台電視即使在明亮的房間裡，畫面的清晰度也非常出色。

picture definition + [adjective]

The definition on the old video was too poor to make out people's faces.

那台舊錄影帶的清晰度太差，根本認不出誰是誰。

同義詞
  • clarity

    broader — can describe text, thoughts, or explanations

  • sharpness

    narrower — mainly visual, emphasizes edge contrast

  • resolution

    technical — refers to pixel count or detail capacity, not perceived sharpness

反義詞

文法句型

[adjective] + definition

picture / image / sound + definition

用法筆記

Frequently modified by adjectives of quality: 'high', 'low', 'poor', 'excellent', 'superb'. Used for both visual clarity (pictures, video) and audio clarity (sound reproduction). Think of it as a technical quality measure, not an opinion ('good' vs 'bad' are less common here than 'high' vs 'low').

常見錯誤

❌This photo has a high definition.
✅This photo has high definition.
💡Uncountable noun; do not use 'a'.
❌This TV has a good define.
✅This TV has good definition.
💡'Define' is a verb; use the noun 'definition'.

5. the quality of having muscles that stand out clearly under the skin, usually fro

5.名詞B2
釋義

肌肉線條

肌肉明顯可見的狀態

the quality of having muscles that stand out clearly under the skin, usually from regular exercise and low body fat

例句

Hugo works out every day to improve the definition in his arms.

Hugo 每天健身是為了讓手臂的肌肉線條更明顯。

improve definition in [body part]

The bodybuilder's muscle definition was clearly visible under the bright stage lights.

那名健美選手的肌肉線條在明亮的舞台燈光下清晰可見。

同義詞
  • muscle tone

    broader — includes firmness and tension, not just visual separation

  • delineation

    formal — the visible separation between muscle groups

  • muscle cut

    informal slang — common in bodybuilding communities

反義詞

文法句型

[body part] + definition

definition + in + [body part]

definition + of + [body part]

用法筆記

Common in fitness, bodybuilding, and sports contexts. Uncountable — you cannot say 'a definition' or 'definitions' for this sense. Colloquial alternatives include 'muscle tone' (less sharp visual separation) and 'muscle cut' (very informal, bodybuilding slang).

常見錯誤

❌She has a good definition in her stomach.
✅She has good definition in her stomach.
💡'Definition' is uncountable; no 'a'.
❌I want to get definitions in my arms.
✅I want to get definition in my arms.
💡Use the uncountable singular form.

6. the process or act of explaining exactly what a word, idea, or concept means — n

6.名詞B1
釋義

定義過程

解釋字詞或概念含義的行為

the process or act of explaining exactly what a word, idea, or concept means — not the result itself, but the work of doing it

例句

The definition of key terms is the first step in writing a research paper.

定義關鍵術語是撰寫研究論文的第一步。

definition of [terms] as a process

A clear definition of the problem helps the team find a better solution.

清楚地定義問題有助於團隊找到更好的解決方案。

同義詞
  • clarification

    broader — can mean making anything clearer, not just by defining

  • delineation

    formal — emphasizes marking boundaries, not just explaining meaning

  • determination

    more about deciding than explaining

文法句型

the definition of + [word/concept]

[possessive] + definition of + [term]

用法筆記

Often followed by 'of' + the thing being defined. Commonly used in academic, business, and professional contexts to describe the initial phase of establishing scope. Frequently occurs paired with verbs like 'involve', 'require', 'begin with'. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 is the product (the dictionary entry); sense 6 is the process.

常見錯誤

❌The defining of key terms is important.' (grammatically fine but more natural:
✅The definition of key terms is important.')
💡The noun 'definition' is more natural than the gerund 'defining' in formal writing.
❌I need a definition of my goals.' (ambiguous — could mean sense 1 or sense 6)
✅I need to do a definition of my goals before I start.
💡Add process words like 'do a' or 'work on the definition of' to clarify sense 6.

7. an individual or object whose qualities make it a perfect illustration of its ki

7.名詞C1
釋義

典範；典型

最完美體現某類特質的人或物

an individual or object whose qualities make it a perfect illustration of its kind — the best possible model of what that type is

例句

Sade's kindness to strangers was the very definition of compassion.

Sade 對陌生人的好心正是 compassion 的最佳典範。

the very definition of [abstract quality]

That old house with a leaking roof is the definition of a fixer-upper.

那棟屋頂漏水的老房子正是所謂的『待修屋』的典型。

同義詞
  • epitome

    formal — 'the epitome of' means the perfect example of a quality

  • embodiment

    suggests living representation, not just an example

  • personification

    only for people — suggests someone who perfectly represents an abstract idea

  • quintessence

    formal — the purest or most perfect form of something

文法句型

the very definition of + [noun]

the definition of + [noun]

用法筆記

Almost always appears in the fixed pattern 'the (very) definition of [noun]'. Adding 'very' before 'definition' adds emphasis and is extremely common in this sense. The noun following 'of' can be abstract ('courage', 'elegance') or concrete ('a fixer-upper', 'a disaster'). Singular only — do not use plural ('definitions') for this sense.

常見錯誤

❌She is definition of a great chef.
✅She is the definition of a great chef.
💡Never omit 'the' before 'definition' in this sense.
❌He was the definition of bravery.' (correct but can be more natural with 'very':
✅He was the very definition of bravery.')
💡'Very' before 'definition' is a common and natural intensifier in this pattern.