Definitions for abstractæbˈstrækt, ˈæb strækt; ˈæb strækt; æbˈstrækt for 11-14 , ˈæb strækt for 15

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

ab•stractæbˈstrækt, ˈæb strækt; ˈæb strækt; æbˈstrækt for 11-14 , ˈæb strækt for 15(adj.; n.; v.)

thought of apart from concrete realities, specific objects, or actual instances:
an abstract idea.
expressing a quality or characteristic apart from any specific object or instance: an abstract word like justice.
theoretical; not applied or practical.
difficult to understand; abstruse.
emphasizing line, color, and nonrepresentational form:
abstract art.
Category: Fine Arts
(n.)a summary of a text, technical article, speech, etc.
an abstract idea or term.
an abstract work of art.
Category: Fine Arts
something that concentrates in itself the essential qualities of anything more extensive or more general.
(v.t.)to draw or take away; remove.
to divert or draw away the attention of.
to steal.
to consider as a general quality or characteristic apart from specific objects or instances.
to make an abstract of; summarize.

Idioms for abstract:

in the abstract, without reference to a specific object or instance; in theory.
Category: Idiom

Origin of abstract:

1400–50; late ME: withdrawn from worldly interests < ML abstractus, L: ptp. of abstrahere to drag away, divert = abs- abs - + trahere to draw, pull; cf. tract1

ab•stract′ness(n.)

Princeton's WordNet

abstraction, abstract(noun)
a concept or idea not associated with any specific instance
"he loved her only in the abstract--not in person"
outline, synopsis, abstract, precis(adj)
a sketchy summary of the main points of an argument or theory
abstract(adj)
existing only in the mind; separated from embodiment
"abstract words like `truth' and `justice'"
abstract, abstractionist, nonfigurative, nonobjective(adj)
not representing or imitating external reality or the objects of nature
"a large abstract painting"
abstract(verb)
dealing with a subject in the abstract without practical purpose or intention
"abstract reasoning"; "abstract science"
abstract(verb)
consider a concept without thinking of a specific example; consider abstractly or theoretically
pilfer, cabbage, purloin, pinch, abstract, snarf, swipe, hook, sneak, filch, nobble, lift(verb)
make off with belongings of others
abstract(verb)
consider apart from a particular case or instance
"Let's abstract away from this particular example"
abstract(verb)
give an abstract (of)

Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary

abstract(adjective)æbˈstrækt, ˈæb strækt; n. ˈæb strækt; v. æbˈstrækt for 11-14, ˈæb strækt for 15
≠ concrete
abstract concepts
abstractæbˈstrækt, ˈæb strækt; n. ˈæb strækt; v. æbˈstrækt for 11-14, ˈæb strækt for 15
relating to art where shapes and colors express emotions
an abstract painting
abstract(noun)æbˈstrækt, ˈæb strækt; n. ˈæb strækt; v. æbˈstrækt for 11-14, ˈæb strækt for 15
a summary of an essay, report, etc.; = synopsis
to write an abstract

Webster Dictionary

Abstract(adj)
withdraw; separate
Abstract(adj)
considered apart from any application to a particular object; separated from matter; existing in the mind only; as, abstract truth, abstract numbers. Hence: ideal; abstruse; difficult
Abstract(adj)
expressing a particular property of an object viewed apart from the other properties which constitute it; -- opposed to concrete; as, honesty is an abstract word
Abstract(adj)
resulting from the mental faculty of abstraction; general as opposed to particular; as, "reptile" is an abstract or general name
Abstract(adj)
abstracted; absent in mind
Abstract(adj)
to withdraw; to separate; to take away
Abstract(adj)
to draw off in respect to interest or attention; as, his was wholly abstracted by other objects
Abstract(adj)
to separate, as ideas, by the operation of the mind; to consider by itself; to contemplate separately, as a quality or attribute
Abstract(adj)
to epitomize; to abridge
Abstract(adj)
to take secretly or dishonestly; to purloin; as, to abstract goods from a parcel, or money from a till
Abstract(adj)
to separate, as the more volatile or soluble parts of a substance, by distillation or other chemical processes. In this sense extract is now more generally used
Abstract(verb)
to perform the process of abstraction
Abstract(adj)
that which comprises or concentrates in itself the essential qualities of a larger thing or of several things. Specifically: A summary or an epitome, as of a treatise or book, or of a statement; a brief
Abstract(adj)
a state of separation from other things; as, to consider a subject in the abstract, or apart from other associated things
Abstract(adj)
an abstract term
Abstract(adj)
a powdered solid extract of a vegetable substance mixed with sugar of milk in such proportion that one part of the abstract represents two parts of the original substance