Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Dealing with ideas and concepts rather than physical objects or specific examples: "Abstract" describes something that exists as a thought or idea, not as a concrete, tangible thing.
   • Not representing physical reality: In art, "abstract" refers to a style that does not attempt to represent external reality accurately.
   • Theoretical, not applied: "Abstract" can describe thinking or science that is concerned with general ideas and principles rather than practical application.

2. Noun:

   • A summary of a text: An "abstract" is a short statement of the main points of a book, article, or speech.
   • A concept or idea considered in a general way: An "abstract" is a theoretical concept, not connected to a real, specific instance.

3. Verb:

   • To summarize: To "abstract" means to make a summary of a longer piece of writing.
   • To consider something theoretically: To "abstract" means to think about a quality or idea separately from any specific object or example.
   • To remove or extract: To "abstract" means to take something out or away from something else.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Philosophy is often a very abstract subject.
  • The museum has a collection of modern abstract paintings.
  • We discussed the problem in abstract terms before looking at real cases.

• Noun:

  • Please write a 200-word abstract of your research paper.
  • He was interested in the idea of freedom in the abstract, but the practical details were difficult.

• Verb:

  • She abstracted the key findings from the long report.
  • It is hard to abstract the concept of justice from all cultural influences.
  • The thief abstracted the wallet from the man's pocket.

Advanced Usage

• "In the abstract": considered theoretically, without reference to a specific instance.

  • Democracy is a great idea in the abstract, but its implementation is complex.

• "Abstract away from": to ignore specific details in order to focus on general principles.

  • To understand the theory, we must abstract away from the messy real-world data.

Variants and Related Words

• Abstraction (n): The quality of being abstract; a general idea.
  • The artist's work moved towards greater abstraction.
• Abstracted (adj): Lost in thought; not paying attention.
  • He had an abstracted look, as if thinking about something else entirely.
• Abstractly (adv): In an abstract way.
  • He was speaking very abstractly about the nature of time.

Synonyms

• Theoretical: Concerned with theory rather than practice.
• Conceptual: Based on mental concepts.
• Nonrepresentational (in art): Not depicting recognizable objects.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Abstract" is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. The verb is typically used transitively or with prepositions like "from.")

Related Idioms

• Abstract noun: In grammar, a noun that names an idea, quality, or state rather than a physical object (e.g., , , ).
  • "Love" is an abstract noun.

Adjective

1. dealing with a subject in the abstract without practical purpose or intention
   • abstract reasoning
   • abstract science
2. not representing or imitating external reality or the objects of nature
   • a large abstract painting
3. existing only in the mind; separated from embodiment
   • abstract words like `truth' and `justice'

Noun

1. a sketchy summary of the main points of an argument or theory
2. a concept or idea not associated with any specific instance
   • he loved her only in the abstract--not in person

Verb

1. give an abstract (of)
2. consider apart from a particular case or instance
   • Let's abstract away from this particular example
3. make off with belongings of others
4. consider a concept without thinking of a specific example; consider abstractly or theoretically