define

Meanings

Verb

• To determine with precision; to mark out with distinctness; to ascertain or exhibit clearly.
• To settle, decide
• To express the essential nature of something.
• To state the meaning of a word, phrase, sign, or symbol.
• To describe, explain, or make definite and clear; used to request the listener or other person to elaborate or explain more clearly his or her intended meaning of a word or expression.
• To demark sharply the outlines or limits of an area or concept.
• To establish the referent of a term or notation.

Noun

• A kind of macro in source code that replaces one text string with another wherever it occurs.

Origin

• From Middle English definen, from Old French definer, variant of definir, from Latin dēfīniō, from dē + fīniō