abstract

/'æbstrækt/

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The word "abstract" can function as an adjective, noun, or verb, and it has a few different meanings. Let’s break it down in a simple way.

As an Adjective:

1. General Meaning: When we use "abstract" as an adjective, it often refers to ideas or concepts that are not tied to specific, physical examples. For instance, when we talk about "abstract reasoning," we mean thinking about ideas without needing to see or touch them.

   • Example: "Love and justice are abstract concepts; you can’t touch or see them like you can with a chair or a tree."

2. Art: In art, "abstract" means that the work does not try to represent real things. Instead, it might use colors and shapes to express emotions or ideas.

   • Example: "The gallery displayed an abstract painting that was full of bright colors and unusual shapes, but it didn’t look like anything from the real world."

As a Noun:

1. Summary: In academic writing, an "abstract" is a brief summary of a longer piece of work, like a research paper. It highlights the main points and findings.

   • Example: "Before reading the full article, I checked the abstract to understand the main ideas."

2. Concept: It can also refer to an idea that doesn’t have a physical form.

   • Example: "The abstract of freedom is hard to define because it means different things to different people."

As a Verb:

1. To Consider Separately: When used as a verb, "to abstract" means to think about something in a general way, without focusing on specific instances.

   • Example: "Let’s abstract the problem to see how it might apply to other situations."

2. To Take Away: It can also mean to remove or take something away, often in a way that is not permitted (though this usage is less common).

   • Example: "He was caught trying to abstract money from the cash register."

Advanced Usage:

• In philosophical discussions, "abstract" can refer to thoughts that are theoretical and not grounded in practical reality.
• In mathematics, "abstract" might describe concepts that exist only in theory, such as numbers or functions, without physical representation.

Word Variants:

• Abstraction (noun): The process of creating an abstract idea or concept.
• Abstractly (adverb): In a way that is not concrete or specific.
• Abstractive (adjective): Relating to the act of abstracting.

Different Meanings:

• An "abstract" can refer to a summary of a scientific or academic paper.
• The adjective form can describe art that does not depict real objects.

Synonyms:

• For the adjective: theoretical, conceptual, intangible, nonrepresentational.
• For the noun: summary, outline, digest.
• For the verb: summarize, distill.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• "In the abstract": refers to considering something in a general way, without specific examples.

  • Example: "We discussed the idea of equality in the abstract, without looking at any specific cases."

• "Abstract away": means to ignore specific details to focus on the general idea.

Academic

Adjective

1. dealing with a subject in the abstract without practical purpose or intention
   • abstract reasoning
   • abstract science
2. not representing or imitating external reality or the objects of nature
   • a large abstract painting
3. existing only in the mind; separated from embodiment
   • abstract words like `truth' and `justice'

Noun

1. a sketchy summary of the main points of an argument or theory
2. a concept or idea not associated with any specific instance
   • he loved her only in the abstract--not in person

Verb

1. give an abstract (of)
2. consider apart from a particular case or instance
   • Let's abstract away from this particular example
3. make off with belongings of others
4. consider a concept without thinking of a specific example; consider abstractly or theoretically

Synonyms

• abstractionist
• nonfigurative
• nonobjective
• outline
• synopsis
• precis
• abstraction