Definition of "external"

external

/ɪksˈtɜː.nəl/

adjective
comparative more external, superlative most external
1. Outside of something; on the exterior.
  Quotations
  Her virtues graced with external gifts.
  1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act V, scene v]
  Of all external things, […] / She [Fancy] forms imaginations, aery shapes.
  1667, John Milton, “Book V”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], […]; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873,
  1. (anatomy) Situated near or toward the surface of the body.
  2. (pharmacology, relational) Relating to or denoting a medicine or similar substance for use on the outside of the body.
2. Capable of being perceived outwardly.
  1. Having merely the outward appearance of something.
  2. Not intrinsic or essential.
    Quotations
    The external circumstances are greatly different.
    1850, Richard Chenevix Trench, Notes on the Miracles of Our Lord
3. Provided by something or someone outside of the entity (object, group, company etc.) considered.
4. Relating to or connected with foreign nations or institutions.
5. Having existence independent of the mind.
6. (education) For or concerning students registered with and taking the examinations of a university but not resident there.
7. (computing, of a hardware) Not contained in the main computer.
8. (computing, of storage) Using a disk or tape drive rather than the main memory.
noun
plural externals
1. (usually in the plural) The exterior; outward features or appearances.
  Quotations
  They had been such declared, such personal enemies, that, even in a court, it seemed wonderful how a decent external could be given to their reconciliation.
  1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XXV, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume I, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), page 298
2. (programming, in the C language) A variable that is defined in the source code but whose value comes from some external source.

Definition of "external"

external

adjective

Quotations

Quotations

noun

Quotations