[Vocabulary] abstract?

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mabzki

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I did look it up on the dictionary, but i can't seem to understand what it means.
Anyone knows what abstract is? Any examples?
 

Mannysteps

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Consider "abstract" the opposite of "concrete". Potatoes, houses, cabbages and all you can see, touch, taste, smell, hear or feel is concrete. Ideas, Gods, feelings, thoughts, you cannot see, taste, touch, smell, hear or feel. They are abstract.

Does it help?
 

mabzki

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@Mannysteps
Thanks that was clearly explained. What about "abstract painting, abstract machine?". It can be seen and touch as opposed to what you've said. Also could you tell the meaning of this phrase "beauty in the abstract"?
 
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emsr2d2

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@Mannysteps
Thanks that was clearly explained. What about "abstract painting, abstract machine?". It can be seen and touch as opposed to what you've said. Also could you tell the meaning of this phrase "beauty in the abstract"?

In "abstract painting" or "abstract art" the word "abstract" refers to what has actually been painted, not the physical painting itself.

An abstract painting would be a painting of something that you can't identify as an actual thing (a house, a car, a tree). It would probably just look like a mess of colours. The artist probably had a very clear idea of what he/she meant but it's not clear to the viewer. For example, this.
 

nyota

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Consider "abstract" the opposite of "concrete". Potatoes, houses, cabbages and all you can see, touch, taste, smell, hear or feel is concrete. Ideas, Gods, feelings, thoughts, you cannot see, taste, touch, smell, hear or feel. They are abstract.

Does it help?

Nice explanation!

I would only be careful with the word 'feel'. You 'feel' feelings. Unless you mean the 'physical feeling' when you touch or hold something.
 

crazYgeeK

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Why doesn't any one talk about the meaning of "abstract" as a verb?
 

emsr2d2

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Because it's not a verb!

Apologies - brain not working. Now well aware that abstract is a verb. Sorry, everyone!
 
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crazYgeeK

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Why don't you clear all? My teachers sometimes take such a mistake, maybe because of tiredness! :)
 
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emsr2d2

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Could you please type "abstract" in the Dictionary.com's search box and enter and explain to me why that famous dictionary is wrong in the definition for "abstract" as a verb?
Thank you so much!

Please see my edited post above. Many apologies to everyone! I hang my head in shame!
 

nyota

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crazYgeeK

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We were just waiting for you. ;-)

I'm sorry I can't. I can understand it in some contexts but explaining it to someone is another problem, not easy! (except copying from the dictionary and pasting here).
 

mabzki

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Why doesn't any one talk about the meaning of "abstract" as a verb?

+1 This word is really hard to comprehend, can someone clearly explain this also as a verb?

I was thinking, if concrete is define to form as a single unit which is the opposite of abstract, then abstract means to seperate it from the group? Is this correct?

Another confusing example, ill give this one a try.
"abstract idea" - does this mean a seperate idea or an unusual idea?
 

emsr2d2

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An abstract idea is usually a vague idea, one with no real definite thoughts behind it.

I'm thinking of giving up my job and going to see the world but I have absolutely no idea when I will go or where I will go. At the moment, it's just an abstract idea I have about travelling the world.
 
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mabzki

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@emsr2d2
Thanks, that explains it, now i can freely breath. :-D
 

BobK

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Why doesn't any one talk about the meaning of "abstract" as a verb?

:up: Or indeed the meaning of the noun 'abstract' (which has nothing to do with the 'not concrete' sense - I mean the short overview of a longer article)... But there are times when a teacher makes an educated guess at what a questioner means, and answers only that question, and on this occasion Mannysteps gave what seemed to me (and obviously was to the OP) a useful answer. :up: ;-) (In the terms of some learners' dictionaries, s/he gave the 'red word' definition.)

b

PS Extracted from the Macmillan English Dictionary online:

Have you noticed that some of the words are in red? These are the most frequent 7,500 words in English...

More here: http://www.macmillandictionary.com/learner-features.html
 
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emsr2d2

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@emsr2d2
Thanks, that explains it. Now I can [STRIKE]freely[/STRIKE] breathe easy. :-D

You're welcome. Please see amendments in red! :)
 

nyota

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Originally Posted by emsr2d2
Originally Posted by mabzki
Thanks, that explains it. Now I can [STRIKE]freely[/STRIKE] breathe easy. :-D

Breathe easy (not easily) meaning relax?
 

nyota

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I thought you'd ask that. ;-) It's right as it is - 'easy' is a 'bare adverb'.

It just asked for a follow-up, didn't it. :)

I figured it's right but does it carry this extra meaning - to relax, apart from just informing us about the manner of breathing or is it not really the case? ;)
 

BobK

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:up: It means 'relax', and has nothing to do with the manner of breathing (except by implication).

PPS I've found another bit about 'red words' (mentioned a few posts ago. On every page defining a word (any - definition of any by Macmillan Dictionary ) there is a pop-up:

What are red words?

90% of the time, speakers of English use just 7,500 words in speech and writing.These words appear in red, and are graded with stars. One-star words are frequent, two-star words are more frequent, and three-star words are the most frequent.

b
 
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