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absolute
[ ab-suh-loot, ab-suh-loot ]
adjective
absolute liberty.
- not mixed or adulterated; pure:
absolute alcohol.
Synonyms: sheer, unadulterated
Antonyms: mixed
an absolute lie;
an absolute denial;
They made absolute fools of themselves at the party last night.
- free from restriction or limitation; not limited in any way: absolute freedom.
absolute command;
absolute freedom.
Synonyms: boundless, utter, unqualified, unmitigated, thoroughgoing, out-and-out, ultimate, unlimited, total, infinite
Antonyms: qualified
- unrestrained or unlimited by a constitution, counterbalancing group, etc., in the exercise of governmental power, especially when arbitrary or despotic:
an absolute monarch.
Synonyms: tyrannical, domineering, despotic, totalitarian, dictatorial, authoritarian, autocratic
- viewed independently; not comparative or relative; intrinsic:
absolute knowledge.
Antonyms: relative
absolute in opinion;
absolute evidence.
Synonyms: unequivocal, undoubted, sure, definite, confirmed, categorical
- Grammar.
- relatively independent syntactically: the construction It being Sunday in It being Sunday, the family went to church is an absolute construction.
- (of a usually transitive verb) used without an object, as the verb give in The charity asked him to give.
- (of an adjective) having its noun understood, not expressed, as rich in The rich get richer.
- characterizing the phonological form of a word or phrase occurring by itself, not influenced by surrounding forms, as not in is not (as opposed to isn't ), or will in they will (as opposed to they'll ). Compare sandhi ( def ).
- Physics.
- independent of arbitrary standards or of particular properties of substances or systems:
absolute humidity.
- pertaining to a system of units, as the centimeter-gram-second system, based on some primary units, especially units of length, mass, and time.
- pertaining to a measurement based on an absolute zero or unit:
absolute temperature.
- Education. noting or pertaining to the scale of a grading system based on an individual's performance considered as representing their knowledge of a given subject regardless of the performance of others in a group: Compare curve ( def ).
The math department grades on an absolute scale.
- Climatology. noting or pertaining to the highest or lowest value of a meteorological quantity recorded during a given, usually long, period of time:
absolute maximum temperature.
- Mathematics. (of an inequality) indicating that the expression is true for all values of the variable, as x 2 + 1 > 0 for all real numbers x; unconditional; Compare conditional ( def 4 ).
- Computers. machine-specific and requiring no translation ( symbolic ): absolute address.
absolute coding;
absolute address.
noun
- something that is not dependent upon external conditions for existence or for its specific nature, size, etc. ( relative ).
- the absolute,
- something that is free from any restriction or condition.
- something that is independent of some or all relations.
- something that is perfect or complete.
- (in Hegelianism) the world process operating in accordance with the absolute idea.
absolute
1/ ˈæbsəˌluːt /
adjective
- complete; perfect
- free from limitations, restrictions, or exceptions; unqualified
an absolute choice
- having unlimited authority; despotic
an absolute ruler
- undoubted; certain
the absolute truth
- not dependent on, conditioned by, or relative to anything else; independent
an absolute term in logic
the absolute value of a quantity in physics
- pure; unmixed
absolute alcohol
- (of a grammatical construction) syntactically independent of the main clause, as for example the construction Joking apart in the sentence Joking apart, we'd better leave now
- grammar (of a transitive verb) used without a direct object, as the verb intimidate in the sentence His intentions are good, but his rough manner tends to intimidate
- grammar (of an adjective) used as a noun, as for instance young and aged in the sentence The young care little for the aged
- physics
- postpositive (of a pressure measurement) not relative to atmospheric pressure Compare gauge
the pressure was 5 bar absolute
- denoting absolute or thermodynamic temperature
- maths
- (of a constant) never changing in value
- Alsonumerical (of an inequality) unconditional
- (of a term) not containing a variable
- law (of a court order or decree) coming into effect immediately and not liable to be modified; final See decree absolute
- law (of a title to property, etc) not subject to any encumbrance or condition
noun
- something that is absolute
Absolute
2/ ˈæbsəˌluːt /
noun
- philosophy
- the ultimate basis of reality
- that which is totally unconditioned, unrestricted, pure, perfect, or complete
- (in the philosophy of Hegel) that towards which all things evolve dialectically
Other Words From
- ab·so·lute·ness noun
- non·ab·so·lute adjective noun
- non·ab·so·lute·ly adverb
- non·ab·so·lute·ness noun
- qua·si-ab·so·lute adjective
- qua·si-ab·so·lute·ly adverb
- sub·ab·so·lute adjective
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of absolute1
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
"We are in absolute awe of Alfred," Ms Gunston said.
Sir David says he expects “absolute transparency” about what students are getting in return for fees, whether on contact hours or important services such as mental health support.
She notes, "For me, if I have the absolute worst day or I'm sick as a dog — as the expression goes — the thing that makes me feel best is to go home and literally climb into bed under a blanket with my dog."
"It would be reassuring to know that someone in authority was monitoring both the absolute number of licence holders swerving a ban and the reasons why they've been granted leave to keep driving," he said.
“Jackal” seemed like the opposite, so it “was an absolute no.”
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