n.
Pronunciation: ' ab-s ə - ˌ lüt, ˌ ab-s ə - '
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English absolut, from Anglo-French, from Latin absolutus, from past participle of absolvere to set free, absolve
Date: 14th century
1 a : free from imperfection : PERFECT <it is a most absolute and excellent horse ― Shakespeare> b : free or relatively free from mixture : PURE < absolute alcohol> c : OUTRIGHT , UNMITIGATED <an absolute lie>
2 : being, governed by, or characteristic of a ruler or authority completely free from constitutional or other restraint < absolute power>
3 a : standing apart from a normal or usual syntactical relation with other words or sentence elements <the absolute construction this being the case in the sentence “ this being the case, let us go ” > b of an adjective or possessive pronoun : standing alone without a modified substantive < blind in “ help the blind ” and ours in “ your work and ours ” are absolute > c of a verb : having no object in the particular construction under consideration though normally transitive < kill in “ if looks could kill ” is an absolute verb>
4 : having no restriction, exception, or qualification <an absolute requirement> < absolute freedom>
5 : POSITIVE , UNQUESTIONABLE < absolute proof>
6 a : independent of arbitrary standards of measurement b : relating to or derived in the simplest manner from the fundamental units of length, mass, and time < absolute electric units> c : relating to, measured on, or being a temperature scale based on absolute zero < absolute temperature> specifically : KELVIN <10° absolute >
7 : FUNDAMENTAL , ULTIMATE < absolute knowledge>
8 : perfectly embodying the nature of a thing < absolute justice>
9 : being self-sufficient and free of external references or relationships <an absolute term in logic> < absolute music>
10 : being the true distance from an aircraft to the earth's surface < absolute altitude>
– absolute noun
– ab · so · lute · ness noun