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abstract

adj. · n. · v.
US //ˈæbˌstɹækt// ab·stract
  1. 1 conceptual (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    existing as an idea or feeling rather than a physical object you can touch.

    relating to or denoting ideas, concepts, or qualities rather than concrete physical objects.

    Example

    Truth and justice are abstract ideas that people have debated for centuries.

    Example

    The philosopher struggled to ground his abstract theories in the messy realities of daily political life.
  2. 2 non-representational art (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Art

    a style of art that uses shapes and colours instead of showing real people or places.

    denoting a style of art that does not attempt to represent external reality, but seeks to achieve its effect using shapes, forms, colours, and textures.

    Example

    The museum has a large collection of abstract paintings from the 1950s.

    Example

    Kandinsky is often credited with creating the first purely abstract works, moving away from recognisable subjects entirely.
    • non objective
    • non representational
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  1. 3 a summary (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

    a short piece of writing that gives the main points of a longer report or speech.

    a brief summary of the chief points of a larger work, such as a scholarly article, thesis, or legal document.

    Example

    I read the abstract of the research paper to see if it was relevant to my project.

    Example

    The conference organisers require a three-hundred-word abstract before they will consider your proposal for a presentation.
  2. 4 to remove or separate (v.)
    C1 Advanced Academic Formal

    to remove something from a larger group or to think about it separately.

    to consider something theoretically or separately from its physical context; to extract or remove.

    Example

    It is difficult to abstract the data from the original report without losing context.

    Example

    The researcher attempted to abstract the general principles of linguistics from the specific dialects spoken in the valley.

    Usage

    Often used with the preposition 'from'.
  3. 5 to summarize (v.)
    C2 Proficiency Formal Technical

    to write a short summary of a long document.

    to create a summary or abridgement of a text.

    Example

    The clerk was asked to abstract the legal documents for the judge.

    Example

    The intern spent the afternoon abstracting several lengthy medical journals for the department's monthly newsletter.
Origin

From Middle English abstract, borrowed from Latin abstractus, perfect passive participle of abstrahō (“draw away”), formed from abs- (“away”) + trahō (“to pull, draw”). The verbal sense is first attested in 1542.

Word family

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