noun

abstract

AB-strakt

noun

A short summary of a longer document, especially an academic paper.

"Read the abstract before deciding whether to download the full study."

adj

Existing as an idea rather than a physical, concrete thing.

"Justice is an abstract concept that is hard to define precisely."

"The lecture felt too abstract to be useful in practice."

Relating to art that uses shapes, colours, and forms rather than realistic depictions.

"The gallery's newest wing is devoted entirely to abstract art."

verb

To take out or separate a general idea or quality from something specific.

"The researchers abstracted several key themes from the interviews."

How to Use Abstract

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither a short summary of a longer piece of writing, or something conceptual and not physically real — as opposed to "concrete."

Easily confused with

abstruse

Common pairings

abstract concept abstract art write an abstract

Word Forms

more abstract comparative, abstracter comparative, abstracted past tense, abstracts plural, abstracted plural, abstract plural, abstracts singular, abstract singular, abstracted singular, abstractest singular, abstractedst singular, abstracteth singular, most abstract superlative, abstractest superlative

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Read the _____ before deciding whether to download the full study.

Etymology

From Latin abstractus, "drawn away," the past participle of abstraho, formed from abs- ("away") plus traho ("to pull, draw").

Synonyms

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remove separate take away withdraw

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