ABSTRACTION

abstraction, abstract entity

(noun) a general concept formed by extracting common features from specific examples

abstraction

(noun) the act of withdrawing or removing something

abstraction

(noun) an abstract painting

abstractedness, abstraction

(noun) preoccupation with something to the exclusion of all else

abstraction, generalization, generalisation

(noun) the process of formulating general concepts by abstracting common properties of instances

abstraction, abstract

(noun) a concept or idea not associated with any specific instance; “he loved her only in the abstract--not in person”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Noun

abstraction (countable and uncountable, plural abstractions)

The act of abstracting, separating, withdrawing, or taking away; withdrawal; the state of being taken away. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.]

(euphemistic) The taking surreptitiously for one's own use part of the property of another; purloining. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.]

(engineering) Removal of water from a river, lake, or aquifer.

A separation from worldly objects; a recluse life; the withdrawal from one's senses. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.]

The act of focusing on one characteristic of an object rather than the object as a whole group of characteristics; the act of separating said qualities from the object or ideas. [First attested in the late 16^th century.]

Any characteristic of an individual object when that characteristic has been separated from the object and is contemplated alone as a quality having independent existence.

A member of an idealized subgroup when contemplated according to the abstracted quality which defines the subgroup.

The act of comparing commonality between distinct objects and organizing using those similarities; the act of generalizing characteristics; the product of said generalization. [First attested in the late 16^th century.]

An idea or notion of an abstract or theoretical nature. [First attested in the late 16^th century.]

Absence or absorption of mind; inattention to present objects; preoccupation. [First attested in the late 18^th century.]

(art) An abstract creation, or piece of art; qualities of artwork that are free from representational aspects. [First attested in the early 20^th century.]

(chemistry) A separation of volatile parts by the act of distillation.

An idea of an idealistic, unrealistic or visionary nature.

The result of mentally abstracting an idea; the product of any mental process involving a synthesis of: separation, despecification, generalization, and ideation in any of a number of combinations.

(geology) The merging of two river valleys by the larger of the two deepening and widening so much so, as to assimilate the smaller.

(computing) Any generalization technique that ignores or hides details to capture some kind of commonality between different instances for the purpose of controlling the intellectual complexity of engineered systems, particularly software systems.

(computing) Any intellectual construct produced through the technique of abstraction.

Synonyms

• (the act of generalization): universalization; see also generalization

Antonyms

• (the act of generalization): specialization; see also specialization

• (mentally abstracting): concretization

Source: Wiktionary

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Ab*strac"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. abstraction. See Abstract, a.]

1. The act of abstracting, separating, or withdrawing, or the state of being withdrawn; withdrawal. A wrongful abstraction of wealth from certain members of the community. J. S. Mill.

2. (Metaph.)

Definition: The act process of leaving out of consideration one or more properties of a complex object so as to attend to others; analysis. Thus, when the mind considers the form of a tree by itself, or the color of the leaves as separate from their size or figure, the act is called abstraction. So, also, when it considers whiteness, softness, virtue, existence, as separate from any particular objects.

Note: Abstraction is necessary to classification, by which things are arranged in genera and species. We separate in idea the qualities of certain objects, which are of the same kind, from others which are different, in each, and arrange the objects having the same properties in a class, or collected body. Abstraction is no positive act: it is simply the negative of attention. Sir W. Hamilton.

3. An idea or notion of an abstract, or theoretical nature; as, to fight for mere abstractions.

4. A separation from worldly objects; a recluse life; as, a hermit's abstraction.

5. Absence or absorption of mind; inattention to present objects.

6. The taking surreptitiously for one's own use part of the property of another; purloining. [Modern]

7. (Chem.)

Definition: A separation of volatile parts by the act of distillation. Nicholson.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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