FUNCTION

Pronunciation (US):

• FUNCTION (noun)
  The noun FUNCTION has 7 senses:

1. a mathematical relation such that each element of one set is associated with at least one element of another set
2. what something is used for
3. the actions and activities assigned to or required or expected of a person or group
4. a relation such that one thing is dependent on another
5. a formal or official social gathering or ceremony
6. a vaguely specified social event
7. a set sequence of steps, part of larger computer program

  Familiarity information: FUNCTION used as a noun is common.

• FUNCTION (verb)
  The verb FUNCTION has 3 senses:

1. perform as expected when applied
2. serve a purpose, role, or function
3. perform duties attached to a particular office or place or function

  Familiarity information: FUNCTION used as a verb is uncommon.

• FUNCTION (noun)

Meaning:

A mathematical relation such that each element of one set is associated with at least one element of another set

Classified under:

Nouns denoting relations between people or things or ideas

Synonyms:

function; mathematical function

Hypernyms ("function" is a kind of...):

mathematical relation (a relation between mathematical expressions (such as equality or inequality))

Domain category:

math; mathematics; maths (a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "function"):

exponential; exponential function (a function in which an independent variable appears as an exponent)

threshold function (a function that takes the value 1 if a specified function of the arguments exceeds a given threshold and 0 otherwise)

circular function; trigonometric function (function of an angle expressed as a ratio of the sides of right-angled triangle containing the angle)

operator ((mathematics) a symbol that represents a function from functions to functions)

correspondence; map; mapping (a function such that for every element of one set there is a unique element of another set)

transformation ((mathematics) a function that changes the position or direction of the axes of a coordinate system)

metric; metric function (a function of a topological space that gives, for any two points in the space, a value equal to the distance between them)

Kronecker delta (a function of two variables i and j that equals 1 when i=j and equals 0 otherwise)

inverse function (the function obtained by expressing the dependent variable of one function as the independent variable of another; f and g are inverse functions if f(x)=y and g(y)=x)

multinomial; polynomial (a mathematical function that is the sum of a number of terms)

Meaning:

What something is used for

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

function; purpose; use; role

Context examples:

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

Hypernyms ("function" is a kind of...):

usefulness; utility (the quality of being of practical use)

Attribute:

functional (designed for or capable of a particular function or use)

nonfunctional (not having or performing a function)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "function"):

raison d'etre (the purpose that justifies a thing's existence)

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

role; function; office; part

Context examples:

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

Hypernyms ("function" is a kind of...):

duty (work that you are obliged to perform for moral or legal reasons)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "function"):

capacity (a specified function)

hat (an informal term for a person's role)

portfolio (the role of the head of a government department)

lieu; place; position; stead (the post or function properly or customarily occupied or served by another)

second fiddle (a secondary role or function)

Meaning:

A relation such that one thing is dependent on another

Classified under:

Nouns denoting relations between people or things or ideas

Context examples:

height is a function of age / price is a function of supply and demand

Hypernyms ("function" is a kind of...):

relation (an abstraction belonging to or characteristic of two entities or parts together)

Meaning:

A formal or official social gathering or ceremony

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Context example:

it was a black-tie function

Hypernyms ("function" is a kind of...):

social affair; social gathering (a gathering for the purpose of promoting fellowship)

Meaning:

A vaguely specified social event

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

social occasion; social function; occasion; affair; function

Context examples:

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

Hypernyms ("function" is a kind of...):

social event (an event characteristic of persons forming groups)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "function"):

sleepover (an occasion of spending a night away from home or having a guest spend the night in your home (especially as a party for children))

photo op; photo opportunity (an occasion that lends itself to (or is deliberately arranged for) taking photographs that provide favorable publicity for those who are photographed)

fundraiser (a social function that is held for the purpose of raising money)

ceremonial; ceremonial occasion; ceremony; observance (a formal event performed on a special occasion)

celebration; jubilation (a joyful occasion for special festivities to mark some happy event)

party (an occasion on which people can assemble for social interaction and entertainment)

Meaning:

A set sequence of steps, part of larger computer program

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

subprogram; subroutine; procedure; routine; function

Hypernyms ("function" is a kind of...):

computer software; package; software; software package; software program; software system ((computer science) written programs or procedures or rules and associated documentation pertaining to the operation of a computer system and that are stored in read/write memory)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "function"):

service routine; utility routine (a routine that can be used as needed)

tracing routine (a routine that provides a chronological record of the execution of a computer program)

executive routine; supervisory routine (a routine that coordinates the operation of subroutines)

reusable routine (a routine that can be loaded once and executed repeatedly)

recursive routine (a routine that can call itself)

random number generator (a routine designed to yield a random number)

library routine (a debugged routine that is maintained in a program library)

contingency procedure (an alternative to the normal procedure; triggered if an unusual but anticipated situation arises)

cataloged procedure (a set of control statements that have been placed in a library and can be retrieved by name)

Holonyms ("function" is a part of...):

computer program; computer programme; program; programme ((computer science) a sequence of instructions that a computer can interpret and execute)

• FUNCTION (verb)

Meaning:

Perform as expected when applied

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

function; operate; work; run; go

Context examples:

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

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "function"):

serve; service (be used by; as of a utility)

cut (function as a cutting instrument)

run (be operating, running or functioning)

roll (begin operating or running)

double (do double duty; serve two purposes or have two functions)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sentence example:

These cars won't function

Antonym:

malfunction (fail to function or function improperly)

Meaning:

Serve a purpose, role, or function

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

serve; function

Context examples:

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

Hypernyms (to "function" is one way to...):

answer; do; serve; suffice (be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "function"):

prelude (serve as a prelude or opening to)

act as (function as or act like)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Meaning:

Perform duties attached to a particular office or place or function

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

officiate; function

Context example:

His wife officiated as his private secretary

Hypernyms (to "function" is one way to...):

serve (do duty or hold offices; serve in a specific function)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP