function
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Related to functioning as: adaptive functioning, social functioning
func·tion
(fŭngk′shən)n.
1. The action or purpose for which a person or thing is suited or employed, especially:
a. A person's role or occupation: in my function as chief editor.
b. Biology The physiological activity of an organ or body part: The heart's function is to pump blood.
c. Computers A procedure within an application.
2. An official ceremony or a formal social occasion: disliked attending receptions and other company functions.
3. Something closely related to another thing and dependent on it for its existence, value, or significance: Growth is a function of nutrition.
4. Abbr. f Mathematics
a. A variable so related to another that for each value assumed by one there is a value determined for the other.
b. A rule of correspondence between two sets such that there is exactly one element in the second set assigned to each element in the first set. Also called mapping.
intr.v. func·tioned, func·tion·ing, func·tions
1. To have or perform a function; serve: functioned as ambassador.
2. To deal with or overcome the challenges of everyday life: For weeks after his friend's funeral he simply could not function.
[Latin fūnctiō, fūnctiōn-, performance, execution, from fūnctus, past participle of fungī, to perform, execute.]
func′tion·less adj.
Synonyms: function, duty, office, role
These nouns denote the actions and activities assigned to, required of, or expected of a person: the function of a teacher; a bank clerk's duty; performed the office of financial adviser; the role of a parent.
These nouns denote the actions and activities assigned to, required of, or expected of a person: the function of a teacher; a bank clerk's duty; performed the office of financial adviser; the role of a parent.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
function
(ˈfʌŋkʃən)n
1. the natural action or intended purpose of a person or thing in a specific role: the function of a hammer is to hit nails into wood.
2. an official or formal social gathering or ceremony
3. a factor dependent upon another or other factors: the length of the flight is a function of the weather.
4. (Mathematics) maths logic Also called: map or mapping a relation between two sets that associates a unique element (the value) of the second (the range) with each element (the argument) of the first (the domain): a many-one relation. Symbol: f(x) The value of f(x) for x = 2 is f(2)
vb (intr)
5. to operate or perform as specified; work properly
6. (foll by as) to perform the action or role (of something or someone else): a coin may function as a screwdriver.
[C16: from Latin functiō, from fungī to perform, discharge]
ˈfunctionless adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
func•tion
(ˈfʌŋk ʃən)n.
1. the kind of action or activity proper to a person, thing, or institution; the purpose for which something is designed or exists; role.
2. any ceremonious public or social gathering or occasion.
3. a factor related to or dependent upon other factors: Price is a function of supply and demand.
4.
a. Also called correspondence , map, mapping, transformation. a relation between two sets in which one element of the second set is assigned to each element of the first set, as the expression y=x2; operator.
b. a formula expressing a relation between the angles of a triangle and its sides, as sine or cosine.
5. the grammatical role a linguistic form has or the position it occupies in a particular construction.
6. the contribution made by a social activity or structure to the maintenance of a social system.
v.i. 7. to work; operate.
8. to have or exercise a function; serve.
[1525–35; < Latin functiō a performance, execution, derivative of fungī to perform, execute]
func′tion•less, adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
func·tion
(fŭngk′shən)1. A relationship between two sets that matches each member of the first set with a unique member of the second set. Functions are often expressed as an equation, such as y = x + 5, meaning that y is a function of x such that for any value of x, the value of y will be 5 greater than x.
2. A quantity whose value depends on the value given to one or more related quantities. For example, the area of a square is a function of the length of its sides.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
function
Past participle: functioned
Gerund: functioning
| Imperative |
|---|
| function |
| function |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  function - (mathematics) a mathematical relation such that each element of a given set (the domain of the function) is associated with an element of another set (the range of the function)multinomial, polynomial - a mathematical function that is the sum of a number of terms math, mathematics, maths - a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement mathematical relation - a relation between mathematical expressions (such as equality or inequality) expansion - a function expressed as a sum or product of terms; "the expansion of (a+b)^2 is a^2 + 2ab + b^2" inverse function - a function obtained by expressing the dependent variable of one function as the independent variable of another; f and g are inverse functions if f(x)=y and g(y)=x Kronecker delta - a function of two variables i and j that equals 1 when i=j and equals 0 otherwise metric, metric function - a function of a topological space that gives, for any two points in the space, a value equal to the distance between them transformation - (mathematics) a function that changes the position or direction of the axes of a coordinate system isometry - a one-to-one mapping of one metric space into another metric space that preserves the distances between each pair of points; "the isometries of the cube" operator - (mathematics) a symbol or function representing a mathematical operation circular function, trigonometric function - function of an angle expressed as a ratio of the length of the sides of right-angled triangle containing the angle threshold function - a function that takes the value 1 if a specified function of the arguments exceeds a given threshold and 0 otherwise exponential, exponential function - a function in which an independent variable appears as an exponent |
| 2. |  function - what something is used for; "the function of an auger is to bore holes"; "ballet is beautiful but what use is it?"usefulness, utility - the quality of being of practical use raison d'etre - the purpose that justifies a thing's existence | |
| 3. |  function - the actions and activities assigned to or required or expected of a person or group; "the function of a teacher"; "the government must do its part"; "play its role"duty - work that you are obliged to perform for moral or legal reasons; "the duties of the job" capacity - a specified function; "he was employed in the capacity of director"; "he should be retained in his present capacity at a higher salary" hat - an informal term for a person's role; "he took off his politician's hat and talked frankly" portfolio - the role of the head of a government department; "he holds the portfolio for foreign affairs" lieu, stead, place, position - the post or function properly or customarily occupied or served by another; "can you go in my stead?"; "took his place"; "in lieu of" second fiddle - a secondary role or function; "he hated to play second fiddle to anyone" | |
| 4. | function - a relation such that one thing is dependent on another; "height is a function of age"; "price is a function of supply and demand" relation - an abstraction belonging to or characteristic of two entities or parts together | |
| 5. | function - a formal or official social gathering or ceremony; "it was a black-tie function" social affair, social gathering - a gathering for the purpose of promoting fellowship | |
| 6. |  function - a vaguely specified social event; "the party was quite an affair"; "an occasion arranged to honor the president"; "a seemingly endless round of social functions"social event - an event characteristic of persons forming groups party - an occasion on which people can assemble for social interaction and entertainment; "he planned a party to celebrate Bastille Day" celebration, jubilation - a joyful occasion for special festivities to mark some happy event ceremonial, ceremonial occasion, ceremony, observance - a formal event performed on a special occasion; "a ceremony commemorating Pearl Harbor" fundraiser - a social function that is held for the purpose of raising money photo op, photo opportunity - an occasion that lends itself to (or is deliberately arranged for) taking photographs that provide favorable publicity for those who are photographed sleepover - an occasion of spending a night away from home or having a guest spend the night in your home (especially as a party for children) | |
| 7. |  function - a set sequence of steps, part of larger computer programsoftware, software package, software program, software system, computer software, package - (computer science) written programs or procedures or rules and associated documentation pertaining to the operation of a computer system and that are stored in read/write memory; "the market for software is expected to expand" computer program, computer programme, programme, program - (computer science) a sequence of instructions that a computer can interpret and execute; "the program required several hundred lines of code" cataloged procedure - a set of control statements that have been placed in a library and can be retrieved by name contingency procedure - an alternative to the normal procedure; triggered if an unusual but anticipated situation arises library routine - a debugged routine that is maintained in a program library random number generator - a routine designed to yield a random number recursive routine - a routine that can call itself reusable routine - a routine that can be loaded once and executed repeatedly executive routine, supervisory routine - a routine that coordinates the operation of subroutines tracing routine - a routine that provides a chronological record of the execution of a computer program service routine, utility routine - a routine that can be used as needed | |
| Verb | 1. | function - perform as expected when applied; "The washing machine won't go unless it's plugged in"; "Does this old car still run well?"; "This old radio doesn't work anymore" double - do double duty; serve two purposes or have two functions; "She doubles as his wife and secretary" roll - begin operating or running; "The cameras were rolling"; "The presses are already rolling" run - be operating, running or functioning; "The car is still running--turn it off!" cut - function as a cutting instrument; "This knife cuts well" work - operate in or through; "Work the phones" service, serve - be used by; as of a utility; "The sewage plant served the neighboring communities"; "The garage served to shelter his horses" malfunction, misfunction - fail to function or function improperly; "the coffee maker malfunctioned" |
| 2. | function - serve a purpose, role, or function; "The tree stump serves as a table"; "The female students served as a control group"; "This table would serve very well"; "His freedom served him well"; "The table functions as a desk" service, serve - be used by; as of a utility; "The sewage plant served the neighboring communities"; "The garage served to shelter his horses" suffice, answer, do, serve - be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity; "A few words would answer"; "This car suits my purpose well"; "Will $100 do?"; "A 'B' grade doesn't suffice to get me into medical school"; "Nothing else will serve" prelude - serve as a prelude or opening to act as - function as or act like; "This heap of stones will act as a barrier" | |
| 3. | function - perform duties attached to a particular office or place or function; "His wife officiated as his private secretary" serve - do duty or hold offices; serve in a specific function; "He served as head of the department for three years"; "She served in Congress for two terms" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
function
noun
1. purpose, business, job, concern, use, part, office, charge, role, post, operation, situation, activity, exercise, responsibility, task, duty, mission, employment, capacity, province, occupation, raison d'être (French) The main function of merchant banks is to raise capital. result, effect, consequence, outcome, end result Your success will be a function of how well you can work.
verb
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
function
nounverb
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
وَظيفَه، عَمَليَعْمَل
funkceúčelfungovat
fungerefunktionvirkeopgave
funkcio
funktsioon
funktiojuhlatarkoitustehtävätilaisuus
funkcija
függvényfunkcióműködik
fungsi
fallstarf, hlutverkstarfa, vinna
기능함수
funkcijafunkcionalus
amatpienākumsdarbotiesfunkcijafunkcionēt
funcţiefuncţiona
delovatifunkcija
funktionuppgift
function
[ˈfʌŋkʃən]A. N
1. (= purpose) [of machine, person] → función f
it's not part of my function to + INFIN → no me corresponde a mí + infin
it's not part of my function to + INFIN → no me corresponde a mí + infin
3. (Math) → función f
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
function
[ˈfʌŋkʃən] n
(= role) → fonction f
to be a function of sth (= dependent on) → dépendre de qch
(= reception, dinner) → cérémonie f, soirée f officielle
vi
(= work) → fonctionner
to function as (= serve) → faire office de
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
function
n
(of heart, tool, word etc) → Funktion f
(of person) → Aufgaben pl, → Pflichten pl; in his function as judge → in seiner Eigenschaft als Richter; his function in life → seine Lebensaufgabe
(Math) → Funktion f
vi → funktionieren; (heart, kidney, brain also) → arbeiten; he can’t function without his morning coffee → ohne seinen Kaffee am Morgen ist er nicht funktionsfähig; to function as → fungieren als; (person also) → die Rolle des/der … spielen or ausfüllen; (thing also) → dienen als
function
:function key
n (Comput) → Funktionstaste f
function room
n → Veranstaltungsraum m
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
function
[ˈfʌŋkʃ/ən]1. n
a. (purpose) (Math) → funzione f
b. (reception) → ricevimento; (official ceremony) → cerimonia, funzione f
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
function
(ˈfaŋkʃən) noun a special job, use or duty (of a machine, part of the body, person etc). The function of the brake is to stop the car.
verb (of a machine etc) to work; to operate. This typewriter isn't functioning very well.
ˈfunctional adjective1. designed to be useful rather than to look beautiful. functional clothes; a functional building.
2. able to operate. It's an old car, but it's still functional.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
func·tion
n. función; facultad;
v. funcionar, desempeñar un trabajo.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
function
n función f; vi funcionarEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.