Wikipedia defines definition:
A definition is a passage (usually prose) describing the meaning of a word or phrase. The term to be defined is known as the definiendum (Latin: what is to be defined). The words which define it are known as the definiens (Latin: what defines).[1]
A prime difficulty for creating definitions is the need to describe the meaning in terms already understandable (or easily obtained) by the reader. For this reason, definitions are often clusters of statements, each partially differentiating the 'definiendum' from other concepts (e.g., multiple examples) as the full richness of the distinctions of the term can sometimes be subtle (and thus not amenable to pithy definition).
To define - to tell what something means or to give distinction to something
What to define?
- a term
- an idea
- a concept
- a vocabulary word
- a principle
Suggestions for writing an effective definition
(summarized from wikipedia and suite 101)
- Set out the essential attributes of the thing or concept being defined
- Avoid circular definition ie, defining a thing with terms that are synonymous with it. For example, defining a horse as a member of the species equus is circular definition.
- Must not be too wide or too narrow. It must be applicable to everything to which the defined term applies (i.e. not leave anything out), and to nothing else (i.e. not include any things to which the defined term would not truly apply).
- Must not be obscure. The purpose of a definition is to explain the meaning of a term which may be obscure or difficult, by the use of terms that are commonly understood and whose meaning is clear.
- Should not be negative where it can be positive. We should not define 'wisdom' as the absence of folly, or a healthy thing as whatever is not sick.
- Explain how or why or what
- Explain using examples and comparisons
- Refer to verifiable sources
A definition can be presented as a word, a phrase, a sentence, a paragraph, an essay, or a combination of these.
- word - loosely, use a synonym or a list of synonyms eg smooth : legato tall : high, lanky
- phrase - great : relatively large in size, remarkable or out of the ordinary in degree or magnitude or effect
An appositive phrase defines within a sentence. Example: Mr. Zeph, my great uncle, will come on the train. Within the context of this sentence, "my great uncle" defines who Mr. Zeph is. - sentence - tall : A tall tree reaches high into the sky.
- paragraph - a group of sentences telling what something means See description of and see example of
- essay - a group of paragraphs explaining what something is or what something means. See how to