abstract
/ˈæb.strækt/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Based on ideas, not on real objects or exact details. It is often used for art, writing, and academic thinking.
- The essay used abstract ideas about freedom.
- This painting is abstract, not realistic.
- He finds abstract math difficult.
noun
A short summary of a text, speech, or research paper. It gives the main points quickly.
- Please read the abstract before the full paper.
- The abstract explains the study's main result.
- Her thesis abstract is very clear.
Adinary Nuance
Abstract is wider than theoretical. The word often means 'not concrete or not tied to real things,' especially in art, philosophy, and writing. For a research paper, abstract means a short summary, not a general idea. Use it when you want a formal word that sounds academic.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- trừu tượng
- Spanish
- abstracto
- Chinese
- 抽象
- Japanese
- 抽象的な
- Korean
- 추상적인
Etymology
From Latin abstractus, meaning 'drawn away'. The word entered English in the late Middle Ages through Old French and Latin, and it kept both the idea-based and summary meanings.
Common phrases
abstract artabstract idearesearch abstractin the abstract
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is abstract formal or informal?
- It is mostly formal. People use it in academic, art, and professional writing.
- What is the difference between abstract and theoretical?
- Abstract means not concrete or not detailed. Theoretical means based on ideas or a theory.
- What does abstract mean in a research paper?
- It means a short summary of the paper's purpose, method, and main findings.
- Can abstract describe art?
- Yes. Abstract art does not show real objects clearly.