FUNCTION

I. noun Etymology: Latin ~-, functio performance, from fungi to perform; probably akin to Sanskrit bhuṅkte he enjoys Date: 1533 professional or official position ; occupation , the action for which a person or thing is specially fitted or used or for which a thing exists ; purpose , any of a group of related actions contributing to a larger action, an official or formal ceremony or social gathering, 5. a mathematical correspondence that assigns exactly one element of one set to each element of the same or another set, a variable (as a quality, trait, or measurement) that depends on and varies with another , characteristic behavior of a chemical compound due to a particular reactive unit, a computer subroutine, ~less adjective Synonyms: see: ~ II. intransitive verb (~ed; ~ing) Date: 1856 to have a ~ ; serve , to carry on a ~ or be in action ; operate