Functional

[nyggus]

Hi,

I'd like to ask about a particular meaning of the word "functional", one in which it means "designed for or adapted to a particular function or use" []functional] - definition of functional] by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.. It is used for example for "functional biology". Nonetheless, it seems to have the very similar meaning to "applied", like in "applied biology", though "applied" is rarer used for biology; often it is used for example for "mathematics" (in which "functional" might be ambiguous). Am I right, or maybe there is an important difference in the meaning of these two words?

Thanks,
Nyggus

[Soup]

Functions as in operations. See functional architecture

Applied means practical uses: Applied biology focuses on the practical uses of biological knowledge and understanding.

Function can also mean 'use' as in the word tree functions/is used as a noun here the tree is green.

Try a better dictionary:
functional - Definitions from Dictionary.com

[nyggus]

Originally Posted by Soup

Functions as in operations. See functional architecture

Applied means practical uses: Applied biology focuses on the practical uses of biological knowledge and understanding.

Function can also mean 'use' as in the word tree functions/is used as a noun here the tree is green.

Try a better dictionary:
functional - Definitions from Dictionary.com

Thanks, Soup. So what does actually "functional biology" mean?

Nyggus

[Soup]

The study of how the mechanical-physiological and behavioral aspects of features of organisms operate.

[vil]

Hi nyggus,

Functional Biology and Terminolgy: FUNCTION AND ADAPTATION IN PALEONTOLOGY AND PHYLOGENETICS: WHY DO WE OMIT DARWIN?

Regards.

V.