/ æbˈstrækʃn; NAmE / noun
1.
[ C , U ] ( formal ) a general idea not based on any particular real person, thing or situation; the quality of being abstract
2.
[ U ] ( formal ) the state of thinking deeply about sth and not paying attention to what is around you
3.
[ U , C ] ( technical ) the action of removing sth from sth else; the process of being removed from sth else :
water abstraction from rivers
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Latin abstractio(n-) , from the verb abstrahere draw away from ab- from + trahere draw off.