Definition of postulates Postulates

/pɑˈsʧʌlejˌts/ - [paschuleyts] -

We found 3 definitions of postulates from 2 different sources.

What does postulates mean?

Wiktionary

postulates (Noun)
Plural of postulate.

Part of speech

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postulates, verb, present, 3rd person singular of postulate (infinitive).
postulates, noun, plural of postulate.

WordNet

Noun Plural: postulates
postulate - (logic) a proposition that is accepted as true in order to provide a basis for logical reasoning
		posit
		proposition a task to be dealt with; "securing adequate funding is a time-consuming proposition"
		logic reasoned and reasonable judgment; "it made a certain kind of logic"
		bayes' postulate (statistics) the difficulty of applying Bayes' theorem is that the probabilities of the different causes are seldom known, in which case it may be postulated that they are all equal (sometimes known as postulating the equidistribution of ignorance)
Verb postulates, postulating, postulated
postulate - take as a given; assume as a postulate or axiom; "He posited three basic laws of nature"
		posit
		presuppose, suppose require as a necessary antecedent or precondition; "This step presupposes two prior ones"
		insist, assert assert to be true; "The letter asserts a free society"
postulate - require as useful, just, or proper; "It takes nerve to do what she did"; "success usually requires hard work"; "This job asks a lot of patience and skill"; "This position demands a lot of personal sacrifice"; "This dinner calls for a spectacular dessert"; "This intervention does not postulate a patient's consent"
		necessitate, ask, need, require, take, involve, call for, demand
		rid of, obviate, eliminate do away with
		exact, claim, take take as an undesirable consequence of some event or state of affairs; "the accident claimed three lives"; "The hard work took its toll on her"
		govern direct or strongly influence the behavior of; "His belief in God governs his conduct"
		draw cause to localize at one point; "Draw blood and pus"
		cost require to lose, suffer, or sacrifice; "This mistake cost him his job"
		cry for, cry out for need badly or desperately; "This question cries out for an answer"
		compel force somebody to do something; "We compel all students to fill out this form"
postulate - maintain or assert; "He contended that Communism had no future"
		contend
		claim take as an undesirable consequence of some event or state of affairs; "the accident claimed three lives"; "The hard work took its toll on her"

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Wiktionary

postulate (Noun)
Something assumed without proof as being self-evident or generally accepted, especially when used as a basis for an argument.
postulate (Noun)
A fundamental element; a basic principle.
postulate (Noun)
An axiom.
postulate (Noun)
A requirement; a prerequisite.
postulate (Verb)
To assume as a truthful or accurate premise or axiom, especially as a basis of an argument.
postulate (Adjective)
Postulated.

Webster DictionaryWebster's Unabridged Dictionary 📘

postulate (n.)
Something demanded or asserted; especially, a position or supposition assumed without proof, or one which is considered as self-evident; a truth to which assent may be demanded or challenged, without argument or evidence.
postulate (n.)
The enunciation of a self-evident problem, in distinction from an axiom, which is the enunciation of a self-evident theorem.
postulate (a.)
Postulated.
postulate (v. t.)
To beg, or assume without proof; as, to postulate conclusions.
postulate (v. t.)
To take without express consent; to assume.
postulate (v. t.)
To invite earnestly; to solicit.

Chambers DictionaryChamber's 20th Century Dictionary 📕

postulate
pos′tū-lāt, v.t. to assume without proof: to take for granted or without positive consent: (eccles.) to ask legitimate authority to admit a nominee by dispensation, when a canonical impediment is supposed to exist.—v.i. to make demands.—n. a position assumed as self-evident: (geom.) a self-evident problem: a petition: a condition for the accomplishment of anything.—ns. Pos′tulant, a candidate; Postulā′tion, the act of postulating: solicitation.—adjs. Pos′tulātory, supplicatory: assuming or assumed without proof as a postulate; Pos′tural. [L. postulāre, -ātum, to demand—poscĕre, to ask urgently.]

Wikipedia

A postulate (also sometimes called an axiom) is a statement that is agreed by everyone to be obvious and correct. This is useful for creating proofs in mathematics and science, and postulates are often the basic

truth of a much larger theory or law.

Postulates themselves can't be proven, but since they are usually obviously correct this isn't a problem. Here is a good example of a postulate (given by Euclid in his studies about geometry).

This is obviously true, because if you connect any two points, you create a line. Using this postulate and four others like it, Euclid brought a new understanding of geometry to the world, and many people think they are some of the most influencial works in geometry even now.

There are also a few characteristics that all postulates should have.

Postulates are sometimes proved to be wrong after they have been known for a long time, but this is usually because something new has been discovered, and the original creator couldn't have known any better.