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Capable of being defined, limited, or explained; determinable; describable by definition; ascertainable; as, definable limits; definable distinctions or regulations; definable words. -- De*fin"a*bly, adv.

Serving to define or restrict; limiting; determining; as, the definite article. Definite article (Gram.), the article the, which is used to designate a particular person or thing, or a particular class of persons or things; -- also called a definitive. See Definitive, n. -- Definite inflorescence. (Bot.) See Determina…

definition. Definition being nothing but making another understand by words what the term defined stands for. Locke.

A word used to define or limit the extent of the signification of a common noun, such as the definite article, and some pronouns.

Having defined limits; not uncertain or arbitrary; fixed; established; definite. Quantity of words and a determinate number of feet. Dryden.

To define or limit by adding a differentia.

marriage, after the death of the first husband of wife; -- in distinction from bigamy, as defined in the old canon law. See Bigamy. Goldsmith.

To define. [Obs.] Chaucer.

to be confounded with any other thing; not liable to be misunderstood; not confused; well-defined; clear; as, we have a distinct or indistinct view of a prospect. Relation more particular and distinct. Milton.

That which distinguishes one thing from another; distinguishing quality; sharply defined difference; as, the distinction between real and apparent good. The distinction betwixt the animal kingdom and the inferior parts of matter. Locke.

A division of territory; a defined portion of a state, town, or city, etc., made for administrative, electoral, or other purposes; as, a congressional district, judicial district, land district, school district, etc. To exercise exclusive legislation . . . over such district not exceeding ten miles square. The Constitu…

(Chem.), an unstable substance, H2S2O6, known only in its solutions, and in certain well-defined salts.

tting of doubt; not obvious, clear, or certain; questionable; not decided; not easy to be defined, classed, or named; as, a doubtful case, hue, claim, title, species, and the like. Beauty is but a vain and doubtful good. Shak. Is it a great cruelty to expel from our abode the enemy of our peace, or even the doubtful fr…

e Deaf-mute. -- Dumb ague, or Dumb chill, a form of intermittent fever which has no well-defined "chill." [U.S.] -- Dumb animal, any animal except man; -- usually restricted to a domestic quadruped; -- so called in contradistinction to man, who is a "speaking animal." -- Dumb cake, a cake made in silence by girls on S…

Having some of the forms, such as drapery or the like, too sharply defined. "An edgy style of sculpture." Hazlitt.

nstituent elementary notions which constitute a complex notion, and must be enumerated to define it; sometimes called the nominal essence.

That system of ethics which defines and enforces moral obligation by its relation to happiness or personal well-being.

exponential calculus; an exponential function. Exponential curve, a curve whose nature is defined by means of an exponential equation. -- Exponential equation, an equation which contains an exponential quantity, or in which the unknown quantity enters as an exponent. -- Exponential quantity (Math.), a quantity whose…

A broad well-defined band of color.

in a sort. -- Fashion piece (Naut.), one of the timbers which terminate the transom, and define the shape of the stern. -- Fashion plate, a pictorial design showing the prevailing style or a new style of dress. in a sort s.b. of a sort