Definitions for function
ˈfʌŋk ʃənfunc·tion

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

1. function, mathematical function, single-valued function, map, mappingnoun

   (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, usenoun

   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, rolenoun

   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. functionnoun

   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. functionnoun

   a formal or official social gathering or ceremony

   "it was a black-tie function"

6. affair, occasion, social occasion, function, social functionnoun

   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, functionverb

   a set sequence of steps, part of larger computer program

8. function, work, operate, go, runverb

   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, functionverb

   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, functionverb

    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. functionnoun

   What something does or is used for.

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

2. functionnoun

   A professional or official position.

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

3. functionnoun

   An official or social occasion.

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

4. functionnoun

   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. functionnoun

   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. functionnoun

   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. functionnoun

   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. functionnoun

   The characteristic behavior of a chemical compound.

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

9. functionnoun

   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. functionverb

    to have a function

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

11. functionverb

    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. Functionnoun

   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. Functionnoun

   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. Functionnoun

   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. Functionnoun

   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. Functionnoun

   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. Functionverb

   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  

Entomology(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Function

   the work or duty which a given part or organ normally performs.

Matched Categories

1. • Mathematical Relation
   • Mathematics
   • Relation
   • Serve
   • Social Event
   • Social Gathering

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. Gyula Orendt:

   It's modern both musically and in the staging, too, i find it quite relaxing to find a new position where singing can still function.

2. David Brown:

   So you're saying let's pull back on policing before we have some of these solutions that we envision will work without the capacity or the function.

3. Dag Hammarskjöld:

   If even dying is to be made a social function, then, grant me the favor of sneaking out on tiptoe without disturbing the party.

4. Umberto Volta:

   The most striking change in clinical presentation of celiac disease over time has been the decrease of diarrhea as the leading symptom and the progressive increase of other non-classical gastrointestinal symptoms (such as constipation, bloating and alternate bowel habits as well as gastro-esophageal reflux, nausea, vomiting and dyspepsia), a high proportion of celiac disease patients did not show any gastrointestinal symptom, but they displayed extra-intestinal manifestations such as iron-deficiency anemia, unexplained osteoporosis, abnormalities of liver-function tests and recurrent miscarriages.

5. State Mike Pompeo:

   We need answers to these questions, we need transparency and we need the World Health Organization to do its job, to perform its primary function, which is to make sure that the world has accurate, timely, effective, real information about what's going on in the global health space, and they didn't get that done here.

Images & Illustrations of function

Popularity rank by frequency of use