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abstraction

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /æbˈstrækʃən/

abstraction means: A general idea that is considered separately from real people, objects, or events.

noun

GENERAL IDEAC1

A general idea that is considered separately from real people, objects, or events.

  • Freedom is more than an abstraction.
  • The lecture was full of difficult abstractions.
  • For him, poverty became a reality rather than a distant abstraction.

Similar words: abstract idea, concept

Common phrases: pure abstraction, mere abstraction, theoretical abstraction

NONREALISTIC ARTC1

Art that uses shapes, lines, and colors instead of showing people or things as they really look.

  • Her paintings explore abstraction.
  • The gallery displays colorful examples of geometric abstraction.
  • His later work moved away from portraits toward abstraction.

Similar words: abstract art

Opposites: realism

Common phrases: geometric abstraction, pure abstraction, move toward abstraction

ISOLATING A FEATUREC1

The process of considering one feature of something while leaving its other features aside.

  • Abstraction lets us study shape alone.
  • Through abstraction, we consider size without discussing color.
  • The model uses abstraction to separate useful features from unnecessary details.

How to use it: abstraction of something from something (This involves the abstraction of shape from color and texture.)

Common phrases: process of abstraction, conceptual abstraction, abstraction of something

LOST IN THOUGHTC2

A state of being so deep in thought that you do not notice what happens around you.

  • She sat in quiet abstraction.
  • His abstraction made him miss the question.
  • A sudden noise broke her abstraction, and she looked up.

Similar words: absent-mindedness, reverie

Opposites: attentiveness

Common phrases: in abstraction, air of abstraction, moment of abstraction

WORLDLY WITHDRAWALC2

A state of living apart from everyday life and turning away from what your senses tell you.

  • The hermit lived in abstraction.
  • Prayer helped him achieve abstraction from worldly affairs.
  • Her spiritual abstraction involved long periods of solitude.

How to use it: abstraction from something (The monk sought abstraction from worldly concerns.)

Similar words: withdrawal, seclusion

Common phrases: spiritual abstraction, abstraction from life, complete abstraction

Questions about abstraction

What does abstraction mean?

A general idea that is considered separately from real people, objects, or events.

What is abstraction in other languages?

Türkçe: soyut kavram · Español: abstracción · Français: abstraction · Deutsch: Abstraktion · Italiano: astrazione · 日本語: 抽象概念

How do you pronounce abstraction?

It is pronounced /æbˈstrækʃən/.

How do you use abstraction in a sentence?

Freedom is more than an abstraction. The lecture was full of difficult abstractions.

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