abstract¹

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   based on general ideas rather than real or practical things

   Freedom is an abstract concept that is hard to define.

2. 2
   adj

   (of art) using shapes and colours rather than showing real objects

   The gallery was full of large abstract paintings.

3. 3
   noun

   a short summary of the main points of a longer piece of writing

   Each scientific paper begins with a short abstract.

Appears in

From Middle English abstract, borrowed from Latin abstractus, perfect passive participle of abstrahō (“draw away”), formed from abs- (“away”) + trahō (“to pull, draw”). The verbal sense is first attested in 1542.

Topics

External links

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