abstract description (english) - meaning, definition, translation, pronunciation

Part of Speech

Noun, Adjective

Phonetic Transcription

/ˈæbstrækt/ (as a noun), /æbˈstrækt/ (as an adjective)

Meaning and Usage

"Abstract" has two primary meanings:

1. As a noun: It refers to a summary or essence of a larger work, such as in academic writing where a brief summary of the content is given.
2. As an adjective: It describes concepts that are not grounded in physical reality, such as ideas, emotions, or qualities that are not tangible.

In the English language, "abstract" is frequently used in academic contexts, particularly in fields like art, literature, philosophy, and science. Its use is fairly balanced between oral and written contexts, though it tends to appear more in written forms, especially in technical documents and academic papers.

Example Sentences

1. The abstract description of the research paper provided key insights into the study's findings.

2. Translation: El resumen del artículo de investigación proporcionó información clave sobre los hallazgos del estudio.

3. She has a talent for creating abstract descriptions that evoke strong imagery in readers' minds.

4. Translation: Ella tiene un talento para crear descripciones abstractas que evocan fuertes imágenes en la mente de los lectores.

5. The artist's latest work is an abstract description of his emotions during the pandemic.

6. Translation: La última obra del artista es una descripción abstracta de sus emociones durante la pandemia.

Idiomatic Expressions

Although "abstract" is not commonly found in many idiomatic expressions, it does juxtapose with certain phrases where it emphasizes non-concreteness or a lack of clarity:

1. Abstract the essence – To distill the most important or fundamental qualities of something.
2. "In this meeting, we need to abstract the essence of our goals to ensure everyone is aligned."

3. Translation: En esta reunión, necesitamos abstraer la esencia de nuestros objetivos para asegurar que todos estén alineados.

4. Abstract thinking – The ability to think about objects, principles, and ideas that are not physically present.

5. "Children develop abstract thinking skills as they grow, enabling them to solve complex problems."

6. Translation: Los niños desarrollan habilidades de pensamiento abstracto a medida que crecen, lo que les permite resolver problemas complejos.

7. Get lost in abstraction – To become so absorbed in theoretical concepts that one loses sight of practical realities.

8. "In academic discussions, we sometimes get lost in abstraction and forget about real-world applications."
9. Translation: En las discusiones académicas, a veces nos perdemos en la abstracción y olvidamos las aplicaciones del mundo real.

Etymology

The word "abstract" comes from the Latin "abstrahere," which means "to draw away." "Ab" means "from" and "tractere" means "to draw." Therefore, the term has evolved to denote withdrawal from the physical or concrete to focus on the conceptual or theoretical.

Synonyms and Antonyms

• Synonyms:
• Noun: summary, synopsis, digest
• Adjective: theoretical, conceptual, intangible
• Antonyms:
• Noun: concrete detail, specific instance
• Adjective: concrete, tangible, clear

Through understanding "abstract," one can appreciate its relevance across various fields and discussions, especially in the context of ideas and summaries.