extensional

C2 Topic:Abstract Ideas
US /ɪkˈstɛn.ʃən.əl/ UK /ɪkˈsten.ʃən.əl/
adj Freq #1377725

Meanings

  1. 1
    adj

    in logic and semantics, relating to or determined by the extension of an expression: the objects to which it applies rather than its meaning or intension

    The extensional definition identifies the class by listing all of its members.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 adj · in logic and semantics,... denotational
Opposites
Word family
Derived forms extensionalismextensionalistextensionalityextensionallyinextensionalnonextensional

Etymology

Formed from extension + -al. Extension comes from Latin extensio ("a stretching out"), from extendere ("to stretch out"). In logic, extension came to mean the set of things to which a term applies, producing extensional as the contrast to intensional.

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