principle

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a basic truth or law or assumption

   the principles of democracy

2. 2
   noun

   a rule or law concerning a natural phenomenon or the function of a complex system

   the principle of the conservation of mass

3. 3
   noun

   a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct

   their principles of composition characterized all their works

4. 4
   noun

   a rule or standard especially of good behavior

   They were a person of principle.

5. 5
   noun

   A fundamental assumption or guiding belief.

   We need some sort of principles to reason from.

6. 6
   noun

   A rule used to choose among solutions to a problem.

   The principle of least privilege holds that a process should only receive the permissions it needs.

7. 7
   noun

   Moral rule or aspect.

   I don't doubt your principles.

8. 8
   noun

   A rule or law of nature, or the basic idea on how the laws of nature are applied.

   Bernoulli's principle

Etymology

From Middle English principle, from Old French principe, from Latin prīncipium (“beginning, foundation”), from prīnceps (“first”). By surface analysis, prīmus (“first”) + -ceps (“catcher”); the former ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *preh₂- (“before”); see also prince.