Definitions

Definition

• concept being defined• class to which the specific concept belongs• Characteristics make concept different from other members in that class

A library is a building that keeps literary and artistic materials such as books, periodicals, newspapers, and tapes for reading, reference, or lending.

• Concept: library

• Class: a building

• Characteristics: that keeps literary and artistic materials such as books, periodicals, newspapers, and tapes for reading, reference, or lending

A definition always needs to expand on the answer the question

What is a(n) …?

A library keeps literary and artistic materials such as books, periodicals, newspapers, and tapes for reading, reference, or lending.

What is a library? ????

?

Generalizatio

n• Concept

• Characteristics

Description

• Theme or subject

• Verifiable information about it

Definition

• Cocept

• Class

• Characteristics

A skyscraper is very tall.

A skyscraper measures at least 85 meters.

A skyscraper is a building that measures at least 85 meters tall.

Format

A library is a building that keeps literary and artistic materials such as books, periodicals, newspapers, and tapes for reading, reference, or lending.

… A library—a building that keeps literary and artistic materials such as books, periodicals, newspapers, and tapes for reading, reference, or lending…

… A library: a building that keeps literary and artistic materials such as books, periodicals, newspapers, and tapes for reading, reference, or lending…

… A building that keeps literary and artistic materials such as books, periodicals, newspapers, and tapes for reading, reference, or lending—a library…

… A building that keeps literary and artistic materials such as books, periodicals, newspapers, and tapes for reading, reference, or lending: a library…

Expressing defining characteristics

for the class

Defining Characteristics

Class +

Prepositional Phrases

that Clause

Wh clause

Gerund clause

Participle clause

the person at school …

the person that studies at a school …

the person who studies at a school …

the person receiving classes at a school …

the person graduated from a school …

Expressing defining characteristics

for the class Elements are chemical substances that cannot be broken down into anything simpler by chemical means.

A catalyst is a substance which accelerates a chemical reaction.

A neutron is a particle having the same mass as a proton but carrying no electrical charge.

A trace is a substance used to follow a chemical reaction or a physical process.

Cracking is the process by which large molecules are broken down into smaller ones by means of high temperatures.

“of–for”

A liaison librarian is a professional of information.

Librarianship is the science of books.Librarianship is the book science.

A liaison librarian is an information professional.

Vague and sometimes confusing

Dewey is a method for book classification.

Dewey is a book classification method.

Types of Definitions

ConceptClass

Charact.

• Parasitology may be defined as the branch of biology which deals with the nature of parasitism and its effects on both the parasite and the host. Broadly defined, a parasite is an organism which lives for all or part of its life on or in another organism from which it derives some benefit, such as food, shelter or protection. Organisms living on the host are known as ectoparasites; those living within the host organism are called endoparasites.

Parasitology may be defined as the branch of biology that deals with the nature of parasitism and its effects on both the parasite and the host.

Concept = class + characteristic

Concept

Parasitology

Class

branch of biology

Characteristics

deals with: parasites the nature of parasitism the effect of parasitism on parasite and host

Organisms living on the host are known as ectoparasites.

Concept

Ectoparasites

Characteristics

living on the host

Class

organisms

class + characteristic = Concept

Real definition specifies the nature of a concept Markers used to express a real definition:

isis defined as

may be defined asconcept

class +characteristics

Concept

Parasitology

Class

branch of biology

Characteristicsdeals with: parasites the nature of parasitism the effect of parasitism on parasite and host

Nominal definition states the nature of the concept and then identifies it

Markers used to express a real definition:

Markers used to express a nominal definition:is known as

Is calledclass +

characteristicsconcept

Concept

Ectoparasites

Characteristics

living on the host

Class

organisms

Expanding Definitions

A. Etymologically

Medicine is the science of diagnosing, treating, or preventing disease.

The term comes from the Latin medicina, which comes from medicus(physician), which comes from medeor (to heal). The root mad- or med- occurs in several languages: middle Persian madha (medical science, wisdom); Sanscrit medha (intelligence, wisdom); ancient Greek medos (advice), medomai (to think about).

B. By negation

Health is not only the absence of physical or mental disease affecting a person. It is a state of complete

physical, mental and social well-being

Corn flakes are packaged corn-based such as Wheaties, Cheerios, and Krispies usually taken for

breakfast.

C. By exemplification

Corn flakes are packaged corn-based food usually taken for breakfast.

D.By rhetorical patterns

A telescope is an instrument used to magnify distant objects. It has two essential parts: the objective, which collects light from the distant object and forms a real image and the eye-piece, which forms a magnified image of this reflection.

Defining Elasticity of Demand and Supply

The elastic used in clothes extends and contracts under the influence of

forces to it. Demand and supply similarly extend and contract under the

influence of such forces as changes in prices . It is often useful to know the

degree of extension or contraction that will follow a given price change. For

instance, a finance minister who is about to impose a tax of 10 per cent on

some commodity with a view to raising revenue would like to know in advance

the probable contraction in demand that this new tax will inevitably cause.

Follwing this example, we can define Price elasticity of demand and supply

as the responsiveness to change in price.

Analogy

Generalization

Example

Definition