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  

Entomology(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Function

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

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. Peter Tork:

   It's an entertainment operation whose function is Monkee music, it took me a while to get to grips with that but what great music it turned out to be ! And what a wild and wonderful trip it has taken us on !

2. Murat Toprak:

   We think (a cut) would be unwise at this stage - Turkey is facing some inflation issues, the good performance of the lira is also a function of the carry, and maintaining a carry is a good thing for the lira and the a good thing for inflation.

3. Evangelos Bournos:

   We are trying to function in another reality because two settlements, Mati and Kokkino Limanaki( just south of Mati), have disappeared. They have been lost on the map.

4. Schlumberger Ltd CEO Paal Kibsgaard:

   We still expect positive movement in oil prices during 2016 with specific timing being a function of the shape of the non-OPEC decline rates.

5. 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.

Images & Illustrations of function

Popularity rank by frequency of use