abstract
abstract
ab·stract
I
/æbˈstrækt, ˈæbˌstrækt/ adj [more ~; most ~]
1 : relating to or involving general ideas or qualities rather than specific people, objects, or actions
abstract thinking
abstract ideas/concepts such as love and hate
“Honesty” is an abstract word.
The word “poem” is concrete, the word “poetry” is abstract.
— opposite concrete 2
2 of art : expressing ideas and emotions by using elements such as colors and lines without attempting to create a realistic picture
abstract art
an abstract painting/painter
ab·stract·ly /æbˈstræktli/ adv
a child learning to think abstractly
ab·stract·ness /æbˈstræktnəs/ noun [ noncount ]
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ab·stract
II
/ˈæbˌstrækt/ noun , pl -stracts [ count ]
1 : a brief written statement of the main points or facts in a longer report, speech, etc. : summary
2 : an abstract work of art (such as a painting)
an artist admired for his abstracts
in the abstract
: without referring to a specific person, object, or event : in a general way
thinking about freedom in the abstract
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ab·stract
III
/æbˈstrækt/ verb , -stracts, -stract·ed, -stract·ing [ + obj ]
1 : to make a summary of the main parts of (a report, speech, etc.) : to make an abstract of (something)
abstract [=summarize] an academic paper
2 : to obtain or remove (something) from a source
Data for the study was abstracted from hospital records.
3 chiefly Brit, humorous : to steal (something)
She accused him of abstracting [=pinching] some money from her purse.
