universal
/,ju:ni'və:səl/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective:
- Applicable to all cases or members of a group; common to all: Something that is "universal" is true, done, or experienced by everyone in a particular group or in all cases.
- Of worldwide scope or applicability: Something that exists, is understood, or is used everywhere in the world.
- Adapted for many purposes or uses: A tool or device that can be used in many different situations.
Noun:
- A general or widely held concept, principle, or pattern: A behavior, idea, or rule that is found in all members of a particular culture or in all humans.
- A coupling in machinery: A joint that allows connected shafts to move freely in different directions.
- (Logic) A universal proposition: A statement that asserts something about every member of a class.
- (Linguistics) A linguistic universal: A grammatical rule or feature found in all known languages.
Examples of Usage
Adjective:
- The desire for happiness is a universal human emotion.
- The film received universal praise from critics.
- This is a universal remote control; it can operate many brands of televisions.
Noun:
- The use of facial expressions to show emotion is considered a human universal.
- The drive shaft is connected to the axle via a universal joint.
- Linguists study universals, such as the fact that all languages have nouns and verbs.
Advanced Usage
- Universal truth: A statement or principle that is true in all situations and for all people.
- One universal truth is that change is constant.
- Universal design: The design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation.
- Curb cuts are an example of universal design, benefiting wheelchair users, parents with strollers, and delivery workers.
Variants and Related Words
- Universally (adverb): In a way that involves or is understood by everyone, everywhere.
- This principle is universally accepted.
- Universality (noun): The quality of being universal, of involving or being understood by all.
- The universality of the story's theme made it popular across cultures.
Synonyms
- Adjective: Global, worldwide, general, common, ubiquitous, all-encompassing, comprehensive.
- Noun: Constant, standard, norm, generality.
Related Phrases
- Universal solvent: A hypothetical substance capable of dissolving all other substances. (Often used metaphorically.)
- Universal time (UT): A time standard based on the Earth's rotation, used in astronomy and as a basis for civil timekeeping worldwide.
Related Idioms
- A universal panacea: A supposed remedy that can cure all diseases or solve all problems. (Often used skeptically.)
- The new policy is being promoted as a universal panacea for the economy's troubles.
Adjective
- adapted to various purposes, sizes, forms, operations
- universal wrench, universal chuck
- universal screwdriver
- applicable to or common to all members of a group or set
- the play opened to universal acclaim
- rap enjoys universal appeal among teenage boys
- of worldwide scope or applicability
- an issue of cosmopolitan import
- the shrewdest political and ecumenical comment of our time- Christopher Morley
- universal experience
Noun
- coupling that connects two rotating shafts allowing freedom of movement in all directions
- in motor vehicles a universal joint allows the driveshaft to move up and down as the vehicle passes over bumps
- a behavioral convention or pattern characteristic of all members of a particular culture or of all human beings
- some form of religion seems to be a human universal
- (logic) a proposition that asserts something of all members of a class
- (linguistics) a grammatical rule (or other linguistic feature) that is found in all languages