Definition of abstraction Abstraction

/æbstɹæˈkʃʌn/ - [abstrakshun] - ab•strac•tion

We found 27 definitions of abstraction from 5 different sources.

What does abstraction mean?

WordNet

Noun Plural: abstractions
abstraction - a general concept formed by extracting common features from specific examples
		abstract entity
		entity that which is perceived or known or inferred to have its own distinct existence (living or nonliving)
		psychological feature a feature of the mental life of a living organism
		attribute an abstraction belonging to or characteristic of an entity
		group, grouping any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
		relation an abstraction belonging to or characteristic of two entities or parts together
		communication something that is communicated by or to or between people or groups
		quantity, amount, measure an adequate or large amount; "he had a quantity of ammunition"
		otherworld an abstract spiritual world beyond earthly reality
abstraction - a concept or idea not associated with any specific instance; "he loved her only in the abstract--not in person"
		abstract
		concept, construct, conception an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances
		right a turn toward the side of the body that is on the south when the person is facing east; "take a right at the corner"
		absolute something that is conceived or that exists independently and not in relation to other things; something that does not depend on anything else and is beyond human control; something that is not relative; "no mortal being can influence the absolute"
		teacher a personified abstraction that teaches; "books were his teachers"; "experience is a demanding teacher"
abstraction - the process of formulating general concepts by abstracting common properties of instances
		generalization, generalisation
		theorisation, theorization the production or use of theories
abstraction - the act of withdrawing or removing something
abstraction - an abstract painting
abstraction - preoccupation with something to the exclusion of all else
		abstractedness
		preoccupancy, engrossment, preoccupation, absorption the act of taking occupancy before someone else does

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Wiktionary

abstraction (Noun)
Removal of water from a river, lake, or aquifer.
abstraction (Noun)
A separation from worldly objects; a recluse life, as a hermit's abstraction; the withdrawal from one's senses.
abstraction (Noun)
The act of focusing on one characteristic of an object rather than the object as a whole group of characteristics; the act of separating said qualities from the object or ideas.
abstraction (Noun)
The act of comparing commonality between distinct objects and organizing using those similarities; the act of generalizing characteristics; the product of said generalization.
abstraction (Noun)
An idea or notion of an abstract or theoretical nature.
abstraction (Noun)
Absence or absorption of mind; inattention to present objects; preoccupation.
abstraction (Noun)
A separation of volatile parts by the act of distillation.
abstraction (Noun)
An idea of an unrealistic or visionary nature.
abstraction (Noun)
The result of mentally abstracting an idea; the results of said process.
abstraction (Noun)
The merging of two river valleys by the larger of the two deepening and widening so much so, as to assimilate the smaller.
abstraction (Noun)
Any generalization technique that ignores or hides details to capture some kind of commonality between different instances for the purpose of controlling the intellectual complexity of engineered systems, particularly software systems.
abstraction (Noun)
Any intellectual construct produced through the technique of abstraction.

Webster DictionaryWebster's Unabridged Dictionary 📘

abstraction (a.)
The act of abstracting, separating, or withdrawing, or the state of being withdrawn; withdrawal.
abstraction (a.)
The act process of leaving out of consideration one or more properties of a complex object so as to attend to others; analysis. Thus, when the mind considers the form of a tree by itself, or the color of the leaves as separate from their size or figure, the act is called abstraction. So, also, when it considers whiteness, softness, virtue, existence, as separate from any particular objects.
abstraction (a.)
An idea or notion of an abstract, or theoretical nature; as, to fight for mere abstractions.
abstraction (a.)
A separation from worldly objects; a recluse life; as, a hermit's abstraction.
abstraction (a.)
Absence or absorption of mind; inattention to present objects.
abstraction (a.)
The taking surreptitiously for one's own use part of the property of another; purloining.
abstraction (a.)
A separation of volatile parts by the act of distillation.