abstract
Use the adjective abstract for something that is not a material object or is general and not based on specific examples.
Abstract is from a Latin word meaning “pulled away, detached,” and the basic idea is of something detached from physical, or concrete, reality. It is frequently used of ideas, meaning that they don’t have a clear applicability to real life, and of art, meaning that it doesn’t pictorially represent reality. It is also used as a noun, especially in the phrase “in the abstract” (a joke has a person laying down a new sidewalk saying “I like little boys in the abstract, but not in the concrete”), and as a verb (accented on the second syllable), meaning “to remove.”
existing only in the mind; separated from embodiment
“abstract words like `truth’ and `justice’”-
Synonyms:
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conceptional, ideational, notionalbeing of the nature of a notion or concept
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conceptualbeing or characterized by concepts or their formation
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idealconstituting or existing only in the form of an idea or mental image or conception
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ideologic, ideologicalconcerned with or suggestive of ideas
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nonrepresentationalof or relating to a style of art in which objects do not resemble those known in physical nature
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impalpable, intangibleincapable of being perceived by the senses especially the sense of touch
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Antonyms:
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concretecapable of being perceived by the senses; not abstract or imaginary
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objectivebelonging to immediate experience of actual things or events
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real, tangiblecapable of being treated as fact
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practicalconcerned with actual use or practice
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existent, realbeing or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
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tangible, touchableperceptible by the senses especially the sense of touch
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conceptional, ideational, notional
not representing or imitating external reality or the objects of nature
“a large
abstract painting”-
synonyms:
abstractionist, nonfigurative, nonobjective-
nonrepresentationalof or relating to a style of art in which objects do not resemble those known in physical nature
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nonrepresentational
dealing with a subject in the abstract without practical purpose or intention
“abstract reasoning”“abstract science”-
Synonyms:
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theoreticalconcerned with theories rather than their practical applications
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theoretical
consider a concept without thinking of a specific example; consider abstractly or theoretically
consider apart from a particular case or instance
a concept or idea not associated with any specific instance
“he loved her only in the
abstract–not in person”-
synonyms:
abstraction-
types:
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rightan abstract idea of that which is due to a person or governmental body by law or tradition or nature
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absolutesomething that is conceived or that exists independently and not in relation to other things; something that does not depend on anything else and is beyond human control; something that is not relative
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teachera personified abstraction that teaches
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thinga special abstraction
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accessthe right to obtain or make use of or take advantage of something (as services or membership)
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advowsonthe right in English law of presenting a nominee to a vacant ecclesiastical benefice
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cabotagethe exclusive right of a country to control the air traffic within its borders
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claim, titlean informal right to something
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duethat which is deserved or owed
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access, accession, admission, admittance, entreethe right to enter
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floorthe parliamentary right to address an assembly
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granta right or privilege that has been granted
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human right(law) any basic right or freedom to which all human beings are entitled and in whose exercise a government may not interfere (including rights to life and liberty as well as freedom of thought and expression and equality before the law)
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legal righta right based in law
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pre-emption, preemptionthe right to purchase something in advance of others
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exclusive right, perquisite, prerogative, privilegea right reserved exclusively by a particular person or group (especially a hereditary or official right)
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privilege(law) the right to refuse to divulge information obtained in a confidential relationship
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representationthe right of being represented by delegates who have a voice in some legislative body
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right of actionthe legal right to sue
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right of searchthe right of a belligerent to stop neutral ships on the high seas in wartime and search them
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right of waythe right of one vehicle or vessel to take precedence over another
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states’ rightsthe rights conceded to the states by the United States constitution
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voting rightthe right to vote; especially the right of a common shareholder to vote in person or by proxy on the affairs of a company
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riparian right, water rightright of access to water
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type of:
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concept, conception, constructan abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances
a sketchy summary of the main points of an argument or theory
give an abstract (of)
make off with belongings of others