Dictionary

define

verb de·fine \di-ˈfīn\

: to explain the meaning of (a word, phrase, etc.)

: to show or describe (someone or something) clearly and completely

: to show the shape, outline, or edge of (something) very clearly

de·finedde·fin·ing

Full Definition of DEFINE

transitive verb
1
a :  to determine or identify the essential qualities or meaning of <whatever defines us as human>
b :  to discover and set forth the meaning of (as a word)
c :  to create on a computer <define a window> <define a procedure>
2
a :  to fix or mark the limits of :  demarcate <rigidly defined property lines>
b :  to make distinct, clear, or detailed especially in outline <the issues aren't too well defined>
3
:  characterize, distinguish <you define yourself by the choices you make — Denison University Bulletin>
intransitive verb
:  to make a definition
de·fine·ment \-ˈfīn-mənt\ noun
de·fin·er \-ˈfī-nər\ noun
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Origin of DEFINE

Middle English, from Latin definire, from de- + finire to limit, end, from finis boundary, end
First Known Use: 14th century

Rhymes with DEFINE

A-line, affine, airline, align, alkyne, alpine, assign, at sign, balkline, baseline, beeline, benign, bloodline, blue line, blush wine, bovine, bowline, branchline, breadline, bright-line, buntline, bustline, byline, call sign, canine, caprine, carbine, carmine, cervine, chow line, clothesline, cloud nine, coastline, combine, compline, condign, confine, consign, corvine, cosign, cutline, dateline, deadline, decline, design, divine, dragline, driveline, earthshine, Einstein, eiswein, end line, enshrine, entwine, equine, ethyne, fall line, fault line, feline, ferine, first-line, flatline, flight line, foul line, fräulein, frontline, front line, goal line, gold mine, grapevine, guideline, hairline, hard-line, hard pine, headline, hemline, high sign, hipline, Holbein, hotline, ice wine, incline, indign, in fine, in-line, Irvine, jawline, jug wine, landline, land mine, lang syne, lifeline, load line, longline, lupine, mainline, main line, malign, midline, moline, moonshine, neckline, off-line, old-line, online, opine, outline, outshine, ovine, Pauline, peace sign, Petrine, pipeline, piscine, pitch pine, plotline, plumb line, plus sign, pontine, porcine, potline, pound sign, propine, punch line, rapine, recline, redline, red pine, refine, reline, repine, resign, Rhine wine, ridgeline, roofline, Sabine, saline, Scotch pine, scrub pine, setline, shoreline, short line, sideline, sight line, skyline, snow line, soft-line, spring line, straight-line, strandline, straw wine, streamline, strip mine, strychnine, subline, sunshine, supine, syncline, taurine, tie-line, times sign, topline, touchline, towline, tramline, trapline, tree line, trephine, trotline, truckline, trunk line, tumpline, turbine, untwine, ursine, vespine, V sign, vulpine, waistline, white line, white pine, white wine, woodbine, yard line, zebrine, Z line
DEFINE Defined for Kids

define

verb de·fine \di-ˈfīn\
de·finedde·fin·ing

Definition of DEFINE for Kids

1
:  to explain the meaning of <define a word>
2
:  to make clear especially in outline <Your responsibilities are defined in the handout.>

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