adjective , noun , verb
■ adjective / ˈæbstrækt; NAmE /
1.
based on general ideas and not on any particular real person, thing or situation :
abstract knowledge / principles
The research shows that pre-school children are capable of thinking in abstract terms.
—compare concrete adjective (2)
2.
existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical reality :
We may talk of beautiful things but beauty itself is abstract.
3.
( of art ) not representing people or things in a realistic way, but expressing the artist's ideas about them
—compare figurative (2), representational
► ab·stract·ly adverb
■ noun /ˈæbstrækt/
1.
an abstract work of art
2.
a short piece of writing containing the main ideas in a document
SYN summary
•
IDIOMS
- in the abstract
■ verb / æbˈstrækt/ [ vn ]
1.
~ sth (from sth) to remove sth from somewhere :
She abstracted the main points from the argument.
a plan to abstract 8 million gallons of water from the river
2.
( technical ) to make a written summary of a book, etc.
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Latin abstractus , literally drawn away, past participle of abstrahere , from ab- from + trahere draw off.