comprehensive

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   including all or everything

   comprehensive coverage

2. 2
   adj

   broad in scope

   a comprehensive survey of world affairs

3. 3
   adj

   Broadly or completely covering; including a large proportion of something.

   When there are diametrically opposing views on a big issue that concerns millions of people, doing comprehensive research just makes sense.

4. 4
   noun

   A comprehensive school.

   Imagine a country where children do nothing but play until they start compulsory schooling at age seven. Then, without exception, they attend comprehensives until the age of 16. Charging school fees is illegal, and so is sorting pupils into ability groups by streaming or setting.

5. 5
   noun

   an intensive examination testing a student's proficiency in some special field of knowledge

Etymology

Borrowed from late Middle French compréhensif, from Late Latin comprehēnsīvus, from Latin comprehendō.