Definitions for ontologyɒnˈtɒl ə dʒi
Random House Webster's College Dictionary
on•tol•o•gyɒnˈtɒl ə dʒi(n.)
the branch of metaphysics that studies the nature of existence or being as such.
Category: Philosphy
(loosely) metaphysics.
Category: Philosphy
Origin of ontology:
1715–25; < NL ontologia. See onto -, -logy
on•tol′o•gist(n.)
Princeton's WordNet
ontology(noun)
(computer science) a rigorous and exhaustive organization of some knowledge domain that is usually hierarchical and contains all the relevant entities and their relations
ontology(noun)
the metaphysical study of the nature of being and existence
Wiktionary
ontology(Noun)
The branch of metaphysics that addresses the nature or essential characteristics of being and of things that exist; the study of being qua being.
ontology(Noun)
The theory of a particular philosopher or school of thought concerning the fundamental types of entity in the universe.
ontology(Noun)
A logical system involving theory of classes, developed by Stanislaw Lesniewski (1886-1939).
ontology(Noun)
A structure of concepts or entities within a domain, organized by relationships; a system model.
Origin: Originally ontologia (1606, Ogdoas Scholastica, by (Lorhardus)), from ὤν, present participle of εἰμί + λόγος.
The Nuttall Encyclopedia
Ontology
another name for metaphysics (q. v.) or the science of pure being, being at its living source in spirit or God, or Nature viewed as divine, especially as the ground of the spiritual in man and giving substantive being to him.
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