verb
define
dih-FYN
verb
1
To state clearly what a word, phrase, or symbol means.
"The dictionary defines "empathy" as understanding another person's feelings."
"Can you define what you mean by "success"?"
2
To describe the essential nature or limits of something clearly.
"Her early novels defined an entire literary movement."
"The contract clearly defines each party's responsibilities."
How to Use Define
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo explain exactly what something means or sets its limits.
Common pairings
define a term
define your goals
clearly defined
define the scope
Word Forms
defined past tense, defines plural, defines singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “define”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The dictionary _____ "empathy" as understanding another person's feelings.
Etymology
From Old French definir, from Latin dēfīniō, "to set a limit or boundary" — built from dē- + fīniō ("to bound, finish").