abstract
abstract
Pronunciation
IPA: /ˈæbˌstrækt/ (US English) or /ˈæbˌstɹækt/ (British English)
Syllable Breakdown:
First Syllable (ab-)
/æ/ - short "a" sound like in "cat"
/b/ - voiced bilabial stop consonant (pronounced by closing your lips)
Second Syllable (-stract)
/ˌ/ (US English only) - secondary stress marker
/st/ - voiceless alveolar stop consonant cluster (pronounced by stopping airflow with your tongue tip at the alveolar ridge)
/ɹ/ (British English) or /ɾ/ (US English) - alveolar tap or trill consonant (a quick flick of the tongue tip near the alveolar ridge)
/æ/ - short "a" sound like in "cat" (US) or /ə/ - schwa sound (a neutral vowel sound) (British)
/kt/ - voiceless velar plosive consonant cluster (pronounced by stopping airflow with the back of your tongue at the velum)
Word Form Variations
The word "abstract" has a few limitations in terms of word form variations:
No Plural: "Abstract" is an uncountable noun. It refers to a general concept or idea, not something you can quantify. Therefore, it doesn't have a plural form.
No Verb Form: "Abstract" doesn't have a verb form. However, there's the related verb "abstract" which means to take something out of its context or to summarise the main points.
Adjective: "Abstract" can also function as an adjective to describe something that is not concrete or related to ideas rather than physical objects.
In essence, "abstract" primarily functions as an uncountable noun and an adjective, with no variations in form for these uses. There's a separate verb "abstract" with its own conjugations.
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Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Noun (Uncountable):
Definition: A concept, idea, or quality that is not concrete and cannot be experienced through the physical senses. It refers to something that exists as a thought or theory.
Synonyms: Abstraction, theoretic concept, intangible idea, essence, principle
Antonyms: Concrete object, tangible thing, material good, physical entity
Adjective:
Definition:
Not concrete or tangible; existing as a concept or idea.
Focused on theoretical or general principles rather than specific details or practical applications.
Summarising the main points of something without going into specifics.
Synonyms:
Theoretical, conceptual, intangible, nonrepresentational
General, theoretical, philosophical, high-level
Abridged, summarised, condensed
Antonyms:
Concrete, tangible, physical, material
Specific, detailed, practical, applied
Comprehensive, exhaustive, detailed
Note: There is a separate verb "abstract" that means to take something out of its context or summarise the main points. This verb has its own conjugations ("abstracts," "abstracting," "abstracted").
Examples of Use
Noun:
Art Exhibit: "The exhibit explored the concept of beauty through abstract sculptures that played with form and colour." (Newspaper article)
Philosophy Paper: "The author's abstract focused on the main argument of the paper, which was the existence of free will as an abstract concept." (Academic journal)
Adjective:
Book Review: "While the book offered some interesting abstract ideas, it lacked concrete examples to illustrate its points." (Online review)
Movie Trailer: "This summer, experience the epic clash between good and evil in a visually stunning abstract exploration of morality." (Movie trailer)
Public Conversation: "During the debate, the politician avoided answering specific questions and resorted to making abstract statements about freedom." (News report)
Social Media Post: "Feeling grateful for the power of abstract thought and imagination!" (Social media platform)
Note: The verb form "abstract" can be used in various contexts as well. Here's an example:
Research Paper: "The researchers abstracted the key findings from the large dataset into a concise summary." (Scientific paper)
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10 Famous Quotes Using the term Abstract
"Money is human happiness in the abstract; he, then, who is no longer capable of enjoying human happiness in the concrete devotes himself utterly to money." - Karl Marx (philosopher)
"Wisdom is the abstract of the past, but beauty is the promise of the future." - Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. (jurist)
"You must always start with something. Afterward you can remove all traces of reality." - Pablo Picasso (artist)
"Evil is the product of the ability of humans to make abstract that which is concrete." - Hannah Arendt (philosopher)
"Abstraction forces you to reach the highest level of the basics." - Alan Soffer (artist)
"A painting is an experience, and if it is a good experience, it is a masterpiece." - Mark Rothko (artist)
"Nothing is more dangerous to the young artist than any conception of ideal beauty: he is constantly led by it either into weak prettiness or lifeless abstraction." - George Bernard Shaw (playwright)
"Enjoying art is a personal matter. It's made up by contemplation, silence, abstraction." - Agnes Martin (artist)
"Abstraction is a mental process we use when trying to discern what is essential or relevant to a problem; it does not require a belief in abstract entities." - Tom G. Palmer (philosopher)
"The spirit of an age may be best expressed in the abstract ideal arts, for the spirit itself is abstract and ideal." - Carl Jung (psychoanalyst)
Etymology
The word "abstract" comes from a Latin verb that means "to pull away" or "to draw away." Imagine pulling something out of a bigger picture to focus on it by itself. That's kind of what the word does with ideas.
The first time we saw "abstract" used in English (around the 1300s) it was in reference to grammar, talking about words that didn't describe physical things. Over time, it came to describe ideas that exist in our minds, separate from the real world. So, an abstract painting wouldn't show a real object, but maybe the feeling of happiness or a sense of movement.
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Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Abstract
In the abstract: This means considering something as a theoretical concept, without specific details or real-world application.
Example: "In the abstract, the idea of world peace sounds great, but achieving it is a complex challenge."
Abstract away from: This means to omit something from consideration or ignore specific details.
Example: "The report abstracted away from the daily struggles of workers and focused on overall economic growth."
Concrete vs. Abstract: This is a common comparison used to distinguish between tangible, physical things (concrete) and ideas or concepts (abstract).
Example: "The artist struggled to capture the abstract concept of freedom on a concrete canvas."
Posts Related to Abstract
Source Information
Definition of abstract from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
