The verb abstract is used to mean “summarize,” as in “abstracting an academic paper.” This meaning is a figurative derivative of the verb’s meanings “to remove” or “to separate.”

ABSTRACT definition: thought of apart from concrete realities, specific objects, or actual instances. See examples of abstract used in a sentence.

Use the adjective abstract for something that is not a material object or is general and not based on specific examples. Abstract is from a Latin word meaning "pulled away, detached," and the basic …

If a statement, argument, or discussion is abstract, it is general and not based on particular examples.

Nov 15, 2025 · abstract (third-person singular simple present abstracts, present participle abstracting, simple past and past participle abstracted) (transitive) To separate; to disengage.

An abstract of an article, document, or speech is a short piece of writing that gives the main points of it.

thought of apart from concrete realities, specific objects, or actual instances: an abstract idea. expressing a quality or characteristic apart from any specific object or instance, as justice, poverty, …

Feb 28, 2019 · An abstract is a short summary of a longer work (such as a thesis, dissertation or research paper). The abstract concisely reports the aims and outcomes of your research, so that …

To consider (an idea, for example) as separate from particular examples or objects. Abstract a principle of arrangement from a series of items.

ABSTRACT meaning: 1 : relating to or involving general ideas or qualities rather than specific people, objects, or actions; 2 : expressing ideas and emotions by using elements such as colors and lines …