Main Entry: de·ter·mine

Pronunciation: \di-ˈtər-mən, dē-\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): de·ter·mined; de·ter·min·ing

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French determiner, from Latin determinare, from de- + terminare to limit, from terminus boundary, limit — more at term

Date: 14th century

transitive verb 1 a : to fix conclusively or authoritatively <determine national policy> b : to decide by judicial sentence <determine a plea> c : to settle or decide by choice of alternatives or possibilities <trying to determine the best time to go> d : resolve <she determined to do better>
2 a : to fix the form, position, or character of beforehand : ordain <two points determine a straight line> b : to bring about as a result : regulate <demand determines the price>
3 a : to fix the boundaries of b : to limit in extent or scope c : to put or set an end to : terminate <determine an estate>
4 : to find out or come to a decision about by investigation, reasoning, or calculation <determine the answer to the problem> <determine a position at sea>
5 : to bring about the determination of <determine the fate of a cell>intransitive verb 1 : to come to a decision
2 : to come to an end or become void

synonyms see decide, discover