abstraction

C1 Topic:Philosophy & Reasoning

US /æbˈstɹæk.ʃn̩/ UK /əbˈstɹæk.ʃn̩/ See IPA manual

Freq #47658

Meanings

1

noun
A general idea formed from specific examples, rather than a concrete thing.

Justice is an abstraction that is hard to define precisely.
2

noun
The act of considering something as a general idea apart from its concrete details.

Mathematics relies on a high level of abstraction.
3

noun
In computing, the hiding of complex details behind a simpler interface.

A file is an abstraction that hides how data is actually stored on the disk.
4

noun
A style of art that does not try to represent real objects directly.

Her later paintings moved from portraits toward pure abstraction.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a general idea formed from... abstract entity

More generalization

Opposites

concretizationspecialization

Word family

Forms abstractions

Derived forms abstractionalabstractionismabstractionistabstractionisticabstractivesemiabstraction

Related forms abstract

Etymology

From Middle English abstraccyone; either from Middle French abstraction or from Medieval Latin abstrāctiō (“separation”), from Latin abstrahō (“draw away”). Equivalent to abstract + -ion.

abstraccyone Middle English abstraction Middle French abstrāctiō la-med abstrahō Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Philosophy & Reasoning Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# abstraction

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /æbˈstɹæk.ʃn̩/
**IPA (UK):** /əbˈstɹæk.ʃn̩/
**Frequency rank:** 47658

## Meanings
1. A general idea formed from specific examples, rather than a concrete thing.
2. The act of considering something as a general idea apart from its concrete details.
3. In computing, the hiding of complex details behind a simpler interface.
4. A style of art that does not try to represent real objects directly.

## Examples
- Justice is an abstraction that is hard to define precisely.
- Mathematics relies on a high level of abstraction.
- A file is an abstraction that hides how data is actually stored on the disk.
- Her later paintings moved from portraits toward pure abstraction.

## Synonyms
- generalization

## Antonyms
- concretization
- specialization

## Derived Forms
- abstractional
- abstractionism
- abstractionist
- abstractionistic
- abstractive
- semiabstraction

## Related Forms
- abstract

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: abstraccyone
- Root: abstraction
- Root: abstrāctiō
- Root: abstrahō

## Etymology
From Middle English abstraccyone; either from Middle French abstraction or from Medieval Latin abstrāctiō (“separation”), from Latin abstrahō (“draw away”). Equivalent to abstract + -ion.

## AI Etymology
Abstraction is from Middle English abstraccyone; either from Middle French abstraction or from Medieval Latin abstrāctiō (“separation”), from Latin abstrahō (“draw away”). Equivalent to abstract + -ion. The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern nominal form is built from the named base and affix. In present-day use, it can mean a general idea formed from specific examples, rather than a concrete thing, or the act of considering something as a general idea apart from its concrete details. Related forms include abstract. Derived formations include abstractional, abstractionism, abstractionist, abstractionistic, abstractive.

## Topics
- Philosophy & Reasoning
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

markdown