n. 1 purpose, aim, use, role or rle, raison d'être, responsibility, mission, charge, concern, business, province, duty, job, occupation, work, office, task, chore, assignment, commission, activity A knife's function is to cut; a guard's is to stand watch 2 reception, gathering, affair, party, dinner, banquet, gala, ceremony, formality, rite, ritual; occasion, event We are attending a function at the embassy tonight
v. 3 act, operate, perform, behave, work, go, run Are you sure the engine is functioning properly? 4 serve, take the role or rle of, act the part of, act as, work as: Dunmow will function as host in my absence