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edit

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˈɛdət// UK //ˈɛdɪt// ed·it Academic General-service

v. to change or correct a piece of writing, a video, or data to make it better. You do this to remove mistakes or to prepare something for others to see.

v. to prepare written, audio, or visual material for publication by correcting, revising, or adapting the content. In biological contexts, it refers to the alteration of genetic sequences.


SIMPLE

I need to edit my essay before I send it.

CONTEXTUAL

The software allows users to edit their photos by adjusting the brightness and removing unwanted objects from the background.

COMPLEX

While the author provides the creative vision, the publisher's team must carefully edit the manuscript to ensure stylistic consistency and factual accuracy throughout the entire volume.

Synonyms
Origin

Back-formation from editor, influenced by French éditer (“edit, publish”) and Latin editus.

Usage

The verb is transitive and requires a direct object, such as a document, file, or gene.

Pitfall

I will edit the mistakes from my paperI will edit my paper to remove mistakesYou edit the document itself, not the errors; to remove errors, use 'correct' or 'fix'.

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