abstraction

ab·strac·tion

noun \ab-ˈstrak-shən, əb-\

Definition of ABSTRACTION

1

a : the act or process of abstracting : the state of being abstracted b : an abstract idea or term

2

: absence of mind or preoccupation

3

: abstract quality or character

4

a : an abstract composition or creation in art b : abstractionism

— ab·strac·tion·al \-shnəl, -shə-n^əl\ adjective

— ab·strac·tive \ab-ˈstrak-tiv, ˈab-ˌ\ adjective

Examples of ABSTRACTION

1. abstraction of data from hospital records
2. “Beauty” and “truth” are abstractions.
3. She gazed out the window in abstraction.

First Known Use of ABSTRACTION

1549

Related to ABSTRACTION

Synonyms: idea, cogitation, concept, conception, image, impression, intellection, mind's eye, notion, picture, thought

Related Words: apprehension, premonition, presentiment; preconception, prejudice, prepossession; chimera, delusion, hallucination, illusion, phantasm (also fantasm); caprice, conceit, fancy, freak, kink, vagary, whim; cognition, observation, perception, reflection; assumption, belief, conclusion, conviction; conjecture, guess, hunch, hypothesis, speculation, supposition, surmise, theory; brainchild, brainstorm, brain wave, inspiration

Near Antonyms: actuality, fact, reality

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Rhymes with ABSTRACTION

attraction, bolt-action, class action, compaction, contraction, cross action, detraction, diffraction, distraction, exaction, extraction, impaction, inaction, infraction, job action, live-action, olfaction, protraction, reaction, redaction, refraction, retraction, stop-action, subtraction, transaction