Definition of "definition"

definition

/ˌdɛf.ɪˈnɪʃ.ən/

noun
countable and uncountable, plural definitions
1. (semantics, lexicography) A statement of the meaning of a word or word group or a sign or symbol (dictionary definitions).
  Quotations
  DEFINITIONS mean nothing unless the concept in the mind of the men who makes the definition is the same as that in the mind of the man who hears it.
  1925, Thomas R. Marshall, Recollections of Thomas R. Marshall‎, Bobbs-Merrill Company, page 65
2. (usually with the definite article the) A clear instance conforming to the dictionary or textbook definition.
  Quotations
  Baroque is a good game, but only for a very narrow subset of the gaming audience. It is the very definition of a niche title.
  2008 May, Shoeless Wayne Santos, “Baroque” (game review), GameAxis Unwired, Hardware Zone Pte, page 51
  Comedy Bang! Bang! It’s silly, it spoofy – it’s the very definition of a hidden gem
  2016 March 1, Stuart Heritage, “Comedy Bang! Bang! It’s silly, it spoofy - it’s the very definition of a hidden gem”, in The Guardian
  That Trump just came out and asked for Zelensky to investigate the Bidens – after reminding him several times of how much the US did for Ukraine!!!! – is something very close to the textbook definition of a quid pro quo.
  2019 September 25, Chris Cilizza, “The Ukraine call ‘transcript’ is pretty darn close to a smoking gun”, in ThePo!nt, CNN
3. A statement expressing the essential nature of something; formulation
4. The action or process of defining.
5. The act of defining; determination of the limits.
6. A product of defining.
7. The action or power of describing, explaining, or making definite and clear.
8. Clarity of visual presentation, distinctness of outline or detail.
9. Clarity, especially of musical sound in reproduction.
10. Sharp demarcation of outlines or limits.
11. (bodybuilding) The degree to which individual muscles are distinct on the body.
12. (programming) A statement which provides a previous declaration with a value or body of a subroutine (in the case of function).
13. (mathematics) A statement that establishes the referent of a term or notation.