function

[ fuhngk-shuhn ]

noun

1. the kind of action or activity proper to a person, thing, or institution; the purpose for which something is designed or exists; role.
2. any ceremonious public or social gathering or occasion.
3. a factor related to or dependent upon other factors:

   Price is a function of supply and demand.

4. Mathematics.
   1. 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 = x 2 ; operator.
   2. Also called mul·ti·ple-val·ue func·tion [muhl, -t, uh, -p, uh, l-, val, -yoo , fuhngk, -sh, uh, n]. 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 y 2 = x 2 , which assigns to every x the two values y = + x and y = − x.
   3. a set of ordered pairs in which none of the first elements of the pairs appears twice.
   4. a relationship in which an input value of a variable has a specifically calculated output value: for example, if the function of x is x 2 , the output will always be the square of whatever the value of x is. : f, F
5. Geometry.
   1. a formula expressing a relation between the angles of a triangle and its sides, as sine or cosine.
   2. hyperbolic function.
6. Grammar.
   1. the grammatical role a linguistic form has or the position it occupies in a particular construction.
   2. the grammatical roles or the positions of a linguistic form or form class collectively.
7. Sociology. the contribution made by a sociocultural phenomenon to an ongoing social system.

verb (used without object)

1. to perform a specified action or activity; work; operate:

   The computer isn't functioning now. He rarely functions before noon.

2. 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.

function

/ ˈfʌŋkʃən /

noun

1. 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

2. an official or formal social gathering or ceremony
3. a factor dependent upon another or other factors

   the length of the flight is a function of the weather

4. Also calledmapmapping 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

1. to operate or perform as specified; work properly
2. foll by as to perform the action or role (of something or someone else)

   a coin may function as a screwdriver

function

/ fŭngk′shən /

1. 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.
2. 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.

function

1. 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.

Derived Forms

• ˈfunctionless, adjective

Other Words From

• 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of function¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of function¹

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

Example Sentences

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From Slate

It’s hard to overstate how much damage re-electing Trump will cause, not only to immigrants and other marginalized populations but also to governmental function, education, the environment, justice and more.

From Salon

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From Slate

At first, Netflix’s ad-supported tier was powered by Microsoft’s technology through a partnership, but the streamer is transitioning to using its own in-house ad technology which will make it function independently from third parties.

From Los Angeles Times

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From Slate

Related Words

• behave
• operate
• react
• serve