function

English

Etymology

From Middle French function, from Old French fonction, from Latin functionem, accusative of functiō (“performance, execution”), from functus perfect participle of fungor (“I perform, I execute, I discharge”).

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈfʌŋ(k)ʃən/, /ˈfʌŋkʃn̩/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈfʌŋkʃən/, [ˈfʌŋkʃɪ̈n], [ˈfʌŋkʃn̩]
  • Audio (US)(file)
  • Hyphenation: func‧tion
  • Rhymes: -ʌŋkʃən

Noun

function (plural functions)

  1. What something does or is used for.
    • 2013 May-June, Katrina G. Claw, “Rapid Evolution in Eggs and Sperm”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3:
      Many genes with reproductive roles also have antibacterial and immune functions, which indicate that the threat of microbial attack on the sperm or egg may be a major influence on rapid evolution during reproduction.
    Synonyms: aim, intention, purpose, role, use
  2. A professional or official position.
    Synonyms: occupation, office, part, role
  3. An official or social occasion.
    Synonyms: affair, occasion, social occasion, social function
  4. A relation where one thing is dependent on another for its existence, value, or significance.
  5. (mathematics) A relation in which each element of the domain is associated with exactly one element of the codomain.
    Synonyms: map, mapping, mathematical function, operator, transformation
    Hypernym: relation
  6. (computing) A routine that receives zero or more arguments and may return a result.
    Synonyms: procedure, routine, subprogram, subroutine, func, funct
  7. (biology) The physiological activity of an organ or body part.
  8. (chemistry) The characteristic behavior of a chemical compound.
  9. (anthropology) The role of a social practice in the continued existence of the group.

Hyponyms

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Derived terms

Translations

biology: physiological activity of an organ or body part
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References

Verb

function (third-person singular simple present functions, present participle functioning, simple past and past participle functioned)

  1. (intransitive) to have a function
    Synonyms: officiate, serve
  2. (intransitive) to carry on a function; to be in action
    Synonyms: go, operate, run, work
    Antonym: malfunction

Translations

Middle French

Noun

function f (plural functions)

  1. function (what something's intended use is)

Descendants

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