function

[ fuhngk-shuh n ]

/ ˈfʌŋk ʃən /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR function ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the kind of action or activity proper to a person, thing, or institution; the purpose for which something is designed or exists; role.

any ceremonious public or social gathering or occasion.

a factor related to or dependent upon other factors: Price is a function of supply and demand.

Mathematics.

Also called correspondence, map, mapping, transformation. a relation between two sets in which one element of the second set is assigned to each element of the first set, as the expression y = x2; operator.
Also called multiple-value function. a relation between two sets in which two or more elements of the second set are assigned to each element of the first set, as y2 = x2, which assigns to every x the two values y = +x and y = −x.
a set of ordered pairs in which none of the first elements of the pairs appears twice.

Geometry.

a formula expressing a relation between the angles of a triangle and its sides, as sine or cosine.
hyperbolic function.

Grammar.

the grammatical role a linguistic form has or the position it occupies in a particular construction.
the grammatical roles or the positions of a linguistic form or form class collectively.

Sociology. the contribution made by a sociocultural phenomenon to an ongoing social system.

verb (used without object)

to perform a specified action or activity; work; operate: The computer isn't functioning now. He rarely functions before noon.

to have or exercise a function; serve: In earlier English the present tense often functioned as a future. This orange crate can function as a chair.

Origin of function

1525–35; < Latin functiōn- (stem of functiō) a performance, execution, equivalent to funct(us) (past participle of fungī) performed, executed + -iōn- -ion

OTHER WORDS FROM function

in·ter·func·tion, adjective mul·ti·func·tion, adjective non·func·tion·ing, adjective o·ver·func·tion·ing, adjective

pre·func·tion, noun re·func·tion, verb (used without object) sub·func·tion, noun su·per·func·tion, noun un·func·tion·ing, adjective well-func·tion·ing, adjective

Words nearby function

funabashi, funafuti, funambulist, funchal, functio laesa, function, function creep, function key, function shift, function space, function word

Example sentences from the Web for function

Openness might be a function of sexuality and gender, as well.

Coming Out Kinky to Your Doctor, in Black and Blue |Heather Boerner |October 25, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
We were just about ready to function in a limited capacity.

How to Save Silent Movies: Inside New Jersey’s Cinema Paradiso |Rich Goldstein |October 2, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Fast forward two centuries, and all these checks have long since ceased to function.

Who Gets to Decide When We Go to War? |Deborah Pearlstein |September 21, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Between work and books and movies and family and boyfriends, I do not understand how they function.

Inside the Mind of The Mindy Project’s Resident Weirdo, Ike Barinholtz |Kevin Fallon |September 16, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

That includes supplies and roads and buildings that function as well as smart and able people to provide the care.

Is This Ebola's Tipping Point? |Kent Sepkowitz |August 26, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
It is needless to say that the peanut party is strictly a "hen" function.

Cupology |Clara
It is curious to find that in 1821 the function of the hospital as a school for students of medicine was something of a novelty.

Springtime and Other Essays |Francis Darwin
Moreover, the ability to perform miracles is but a function of spirituality.

Carmen Ariza |Charles Francis Stocking
In the exercise of this function every conscientious member is obliged continually to vote money for purposes which he dislikes.

The Map of Life |William Edward Hartpole Lecky
Hence, the performance of every function is, in a sense, a moral obligation.

A Review of the Systems of Ethics Founded on the Theory of Evolution |C. M. Williams

British Dictionary definitions for function

function

/ (ˈfʌŋkʃən) /

noun

the natural action or intended purpose of a person or thing in a specific role the function of a hammer is to hit nails into wood

an official or formal social gathering or ceremony

a factor dependent upon another or other factors the length of the flight is a function of the weather

Also called: map, mapping maths logic a relation between two sets that associates a unique element (the value) of the second (the range) with each element (the argument) of the first (the domain): a many-one relation. Symbol: f(x) The value of f(x) for x = 2 is f(2)

verb (intr)

to operate or perform as specified; work properly

(foll by as) to perform the action or role (of something or someone else) a coin may function as a screwdriver

Derived forms of function

functionless, adjective

Word Origin for function

C16: from Latin functiō, from fungī to perform, discharge

Medical definitions for function

function

[ fŭngk′shən ]

n.

The physiological property or the special action of an organ or body part.

Something closely related to another thing and dependent on it for its existence, value, or significance, such as growth resulting from nutrition.

A mathematical variable so related to another that for each value assumed by one there is a value determined for the other.

A rule of correspondence between two sets such that there is a unique element in the second set assigned to each element in the first set.

The general properties of a substance, depending on its chemical character and relation to other substances, that provide the basis upon which it may be grouped as among acids or bases.

A particular reactive grouping in a molecule.

Scientific definitions for function

function

[ fŭngk′shən ]

A relationship between two sets that matches each member of the first set with a unique member of the second set. Functions are often expressed as an equation, such as y = x + 5, meaning that y is a function of x such that for any value of x, the value of y will be 5 greater than x.

A quantity whose value depends on the value given to one or more related quantities. For example, the area of a square is a function of the length of its sides.

Cultural definitions for function

function

In mathematics, a quantity whose value is determined by the value of some other quantity. For example, “The yield of this field is a function of the amount of fertilizer applied” means that a given amount of fertilizer will yield an amount of whatever crop is growing.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

function

noun

verb (used without object)

Origin of function

OTHER WORDS FROM function

Words nearby function

Example sentences from the Web for function

British Dictionary definitions for function

noun

verb (intr)

Derived forms of function

Word Origin for function

Medical definitions for function

n.

Scientific definitions for function

Cultural definitions for function

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

function

noun

verb (used without object)

Origin of function

OTHER WORDS FROM function

Words nearby function

Words related to function

Example sentences from the Web for function

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for function

noun

verb (intr)

Derived forms of function

Word Origin for function

Medical definitions for function

n.

Scientific definitions for function

Cultural definitions for function

British Dictionary definitions for function