Definitions for function
ˈfʌŋk ʃənfunc·tion

Princeton's WordNet(3.50 / 8 votes)Rate this definition:

1. function, mathematical function, single-valued function, map, mapping(noun)

   (mathematics) a mathematical relation such that each element of a given set (the domain of the function) is associated with an element of another set (the range of the function)

2. function, purpose, role, use(noun)

   what something is used for

   "the function of an auger is to bore holes"; "ballet is beautiful but what use is it?"

3. function, office, part, role(noun)

   the actions and activities assigned to or required or expected of a person or group

   "the function of a teacher"; "the government must do its part"; "play its role"

4. function(noun)

   a relation such that one thing is dependent on another

   "height is a function of age"; "price is a function of supply and demand"

5. function(noun)

   a formal or official social gathering or ceremony

   "it was a black-tie function"

6. affair, occasion, social occasion, function, social function(noun)

   a vaguely specified social event

   "the party was quite an affair"; "an occasion arranged to honor the president"; "a seemingly endless round of social functions"

7. routine, subroutine, subprogram, procedure, function(verb)

   a set sequence of steps, part of larger computer program

8. function, work, operate, go, run(verb)

   perform as expected when applied

   "The washing machine won't go unless it's plugged in"; "Does this old car still run well?"; "This old radio doesn't work anymore"

9. serve, function(verb)

   serve a purpose, role, or function

   "The tree stump serves as a table"; "The female students served as a control group"; "This table would serve very well"; "His freedom served him well"; "The table functions as a desk"

10. officiate, function(verb)

    perform duties attached to a particular office or place or function

    "His wife officiated as his private secretary"

Wiktionary(3.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. function(Noun)

   What something does or is used for.

   Etymology: From function, from fonction, from functionem, accusative of function, from functus perfect participle of fungor.

2. function(Noun)

   A professional or official position.

   Etymology: From function, from fonction, from functionem, accusative of function, from functus perfect participle of fungor.

3. function(Noun)

   An official or social occasion.

   Etymology: From function, from fonction, from functionem, accusative of function, from functus perfect participle of fungor.

4. function(Noun)

   A relation where one thing is dependent on another for its existence, value, or significance.

   Etymology: From function, from fonction, from functionem, accusative of function, from functus perfect participle of fungor.

5. function(Noun)

   A relation in which each element of the domain is associated with exactly one element of the codomain.

   Etymology: From function, from fonction, from functionem, accusative of function, from functus perfect participle of fungor.

6. function(Noun)

   A routine that receives zero or more arguments and may return a result.

   Etymology: From function, from fonction, from functionem, accusative of function, from functus perfect participle of fungor.

7. function(Noun)

   The physiological activity of an organ or body part.

   Etymology: From function, from fonction, from functionem, accusative of function, from functus perfect participle of fungor.

8. function(Noun)

   The characteristic behavior of a chemical compound.

   Etymology: From function, from fonction, from functionem, accusative of function, from functus perfect participle of fungor.

9. function(Noun)

   The role of a social practice in the continued existence of the group.

   Etymology: From function, from fonction, from functionem, accusative of function, from functus perfect participle of fungor.

10. function(Verb)

    to have a function

    Etymology: From function, from fonction, from functionem, accusative of function, from functus perfect participle of fungor.

11. function(Verb)

    to carry on a function; to be in action

    Etymology: From function, from fonction, from functionem, accusative of function, from functus perfect participle of fungor.

Webster Dictionary(2.00 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Function(noun)

   the act of executing or performing any duty, office, or calling; per formance

   Etymology: [L. functio, fr. fungi to perform, execute, akin to Skr. bhuj to enjoy, have the use of: cf. F. fonction. Cf. Defunct.]

2. Function(noun)

   the appropriate action of any special organ or part of an animal or vegetable organism; as, the function of the heart or the limbs; the function of leaves, sap, roots, etc.; life is the sum of the functions of the various organs and parts of the body

   Etymology: [L. functio, fr. fungi to perform, execute, akin to Skr. bhuj to enjoy, have the use of: cf. F. fonction. Cf. Defunct.]

3. Function(noun)

   the natural or assigned action of any power or faculty, as of the soul, or of the intellect; the exertion of an energy of some determinate kind

   Etymology: [L. functio, fr. fungi to perform, execute, akin to Skr. bhuj to enjoy, have the use of: cf. F. fonction. Cf. Defunct.]

4. Function(noun)

   the course of action which peculiarly pertains to any public officer in church or state; the activity appropriate to any business or profession

   Etymology: [L. functio, fr. fungi to perform, execute, akin to Skr. bhuj to enjoy, have the use of: cf. F. fonction. Cf. Defunct.]

5. Function(noun)

   a quantity so connected with another quantity, that if any alteration be made in the latter there will be a consequent alteration in the former. Each quantity is said to be a function of the other. Thus, the circumference of a circle is a function of the diameter. If x be a symbol to which different numerical values can be assigned, such expressions as x2, 3x, Log. x, and Sin. x, are all functions of x

   Etymology: [L. functio, fr. fungi to perform, execute, akin to Skr. bhuj to enjoy, have the use of: cf. F. fonction. Cf. Defunct.]

6. Function(verb)

   alt. of Functionate

   Etymology: [L. functio, fr. fungi to perform, execute, akin to Skr. bhuj to enjoy, have the use of: cf. F. fonction. Cf. Defunct.]

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(4.00 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Function

   fungk′shun, n. the doing of a thing: duty peculiar to any office: faculty, exercise of faculty: the peculiar office of any part of the body or mind: power: a solemn service: (math.) a quantity so connected with another that any change in the one produces a corresponding change in the other: the technical term in physiology for the vital activity of organ, tissue, or cell.—adj. Func′tional, pertaining to or performed by functions—opp. to Organic or Structural.—vs.t. Func′tionalise, Func′tionate.—adv. Func′tionally.—n. Func′tionary, one who discharges any duty: one who holds an office.—adj. Func′tionless, having no function. [O. Fr.,—L. function-em—fungi, functus, to perform.]

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. function

   To serve a purpose according to the creation or design.

   The function of the machinery was to ensure the crew spent less time doing manual work, it was very effective.

   Submitted by MaryC on January 25, 2020  

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'function' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #1358

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'function' in Written Corpus Frequency: #1365

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'function' in Nouns Frequency: #334

4. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'function' in Verbs Frequency: #814

How to pronounce function?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say function in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of function in Chaldean Numerology is: 3

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of function in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of function in a Sentence

1. Brandon Wu:

   This is not how we had hoped the GCF would function, it would not be surprising if developing countries are feeling a bit of caution about the GCF at this point.

2. Asad Umar:

   Isolating these cases and their contacts will improve our ability to contain the disease alongside allowing the economy to function and people to get employment, this upcoming month of Ramadan will be decisive.

3. Andre Emmanuel Bendavi ben-YEHU:

   The immorality and amorality reign in the hearts of the 'leaders' of the world, political and religious; from Vatican to Canterbury, and on through their subdivisions, and through the 'Holy Tribunal of The Inquisition', DBA now as The United Nations Security Council. — Andre Emmanuel Bendavi ben-YEHU As long as governments and religious leaders function in accordance with the daily prescribed rules of ERIS and ARES, PLUTO will be working full time, enjoying the smell of the holocaust of children on the four corners of the Earth. — Andre Emmanuel Bendavi ben-YEHU Blissed are the eyes that can scan the soul of words within their breath of meaning, and reveal the colors of their images with hues of understanding. — Andre Emmanuel Bendavi ben-YEHU The mind of a Poet is a creative engine of beauty, wonders and grace to diffuse love, harmony; to learn and to teach; to instruct and defend art and the language; and to stimulate intuition and imagination. — Andre Emmanuel Bendavi ben-YEHU Poets have written the most important facts and events of our planet, and of the universe. They have been the fountain of knowledge for historians in all fields of the human culture; for philologists, linguisticians, and grammarians; — mothers, fathers and guardians — of the languages, throughout the history of Mankind. — Andre Emmanuel Bendavi ben-YEHU A Poet may express her/his natural emotions, the intergalactic wonders, or serve as an interpreter for what is possible to exist, could have existed or exists around her/his perception. — Andre Emmanuel Bendavi ben-YEHU Friends are linked by the most powerful energy of the nature of the Human Race; the energy that is the sister of Motherhood; the energy of Friendship. — Andre Emmanuel Bendavi ben-YEHU A free thinker is one that acts self directed, and learns through resourceful thoughts; that questions everything, and knows the words she/he conveys. — Andre Emmanuel Bendavi ben-YEHU Know the words that You use, — for once they are used — they will identify the true picture of one's intelligence. — Andre Emmanuel Bendavi ben-YEHU Words are the vehicle of Soul’s creation, and the voice of one’s heart. — Andre Emmanuel Bendavi ben-YEHU Inspiration is a tourist in the artistic land of hard work. — Andre Emmanuel Bendavi ben-YEHU What makes the history of a Poet is not the number of pages written, but the number of souls inspired by her or his work. — Andre Emmanuel Bendavi ben-YEHU A poem is a spice for everyone’s cerebral diet; a sublime companion, always present to ignite one’s intellectual dynamo; and to prod the heart to pump beauty.— Andre Emmanuel Bendavi ben-YEHU A poem is a precious jar of perfume that needs to be packed accordingly. — Andre Emmanuel Bendavi ben-YEHU Words can have beauty and meaning, but when they are poetized, they have the meaning of beauty. — Andre Emmanuel Bendavi ben-YEHU A Poet paints with words, and writes with mathematized forms of geometric metaphors. — Andre Emmanuel Bendavi ben-YEHU Any one can learn mathematics, music and letters, and earn a Ph.D. in Poetics, but only a Poet can learn all that, and write with syllables of love and art. — Andre Emmanuel Bendavi ben-YEHU In English, as in any other language, there are rules that one must follow. In Poetry one must follow the language’s rules, and feel free to improve any branch of the poetic art; one has license to create around, change forms, styles and concepts, but one can never forget that there is no 'poetic license' to ignore the language and its principles. — Andre Emmanuel Bendavi ben-YEHU Let mankind understand the order of the planet./It’s time for all to gather and sow seed of justice,/Before time disallows use of tools to build ships/To rescue human children from deluge of blood! http://allpoetry.com/poem/6415503 — Andre Emmanuel Bendavi ben-YEHU When we understand that we are the human race, there will be no places for Eris and Ares on this planet. — Andre Emmanuel Bendavi ben-YEHU

4. Royeen Rahnosh:

   A free media is a huge achievement for this country made by the people and journalists, not the government. If this situation doesn't change, the small independent news organizations like Khaama will disappear because they cannot function without protection.

5. Neha Chaudhary:

   When a child is anxious or fearful, the parts of their brains responsible for attention, thinking, and learning just aren't able to function as well, teachers might find that some kids are more distractible, seemingly disengaged, not understanding the material as easily, or even easily annoyed or more emotionally reactive.

Images & Illustrations of function

Popularity rank by frequency of use