abstraction
Translation
abstraction, concept, idea, absent-mindedness
Examples
Freedom is a difficult abstraction to define.
Freedom is a difficult abstraction to define.
He stared out the window in a state of abstraction.
He stared out the window in a state of abstraction.
Grammar Patterns
((indefinite article)) a general idea, not a physical thing. Freedom is a difficult abstraction to define.
Similar Words
Synonyms: concept, idea, theory; Antonyms: reality, concrete object
Etymology
From Latin 'abstractio', the noun form of 'abstractus' (drawn away).
Memory Tips
This is the noun form of the adjective 'abstract'. It refers to an idea 'drawn away' from a specific example.