abstract

Meanings

1. 1adjectivecomparable

   Existing as an idea, quality, or concept rather than as a physical object that can be seen or touched.

   Grammar: Can be graded: more abstract, very abstract; the opposite is concrete.

   Patterns

   • an abstract idea
   • an abstract concept
   • abstract thinking
   • become increasingly abstract

   Justice is an abstract idea that people define in different ways.

   Young children usually learn concrete words before abstract concepts.

   The discussion became more abstract and harder to connect to daily life.

2. 2adjectivenot comparable

   In art, using shapes, colors, and forms without trying to show objects or people realistically.

   Grammar: Used before nouns such as art, painting, and sculpture; not normally graded with more or very.

   Patterns

   • abstract art
   • an abstract painting
   • abstract sculpture

   The gallery displayed a large abstract painting in red and black.

   She prefers abstract sculpture because it suggests movement without copying bodies.

   His early work was realistic, but later paintings became completely abstract.

3. 3nouncountable

   A short summary that gives the main points of an academic article, report, or conference presentation.

   Grammar: Has a plural, abstracts; often used in academic writing, conferences, and databases.

   Patterns

   • an abstract of something
   • write an abstract
   • present an abstract
   • publish an abstract

   Read the abstract before deciding whether the full paper is useful.

   She submitted an abstract to the linguistics conference.

   The database lists title, author, and abstract for each article.

4. 4verbtransitiveformaltechnical

   To remove, extract, or take out information, a substance, or a part from a larger whole.

   Grammar: Takes an object; formal and often followed by from: abstract data from records.

   Patterns

   • abstract something from something
   • abstract data
   • abstract a sample

   The researchers abstracted key figures from hospital records.

   Technicians abstracted a small sample for testing.

   It is difficult to abstract one cause from such a complex event.

5. 5verbtransitiveformal

   To summarize the essential points of a text or argument in a shorter form.

   Grammar: Takes an object meaning a text or argument; more formal than summarize in everyday use.

   Patterns

   • abstract an argument
   • abstract a report
   • abstract something into something

   He abstracted the report into five clear bullet points.

   Please abstract the main argument without adding your opinion.

   The editor asked her to abstract the article for a wider audience.

Word forms

Common combinations

abstract idea

Freedom is an abstract idea that is hard to draw.

abstract art

The museum added more abstract art to its modern collection.

write an abstract

Students must write an abstract before submitting the essay.

abstract data from records

The team abstracted data from old paper records.

in the abstract

The plan sounds good in the abstract, but it may fail in practice.

Synonyms and how they differ

theoretical

Emphasizes ideas and models rather than practice; a theory can be tested, while an abstract idea may simply have no physical form.

intangible

Means unable to be touched and is common in business, as in intangible assets; it stresses lack of physical presence.

conceptual

Relates to concepts and is often used in design, planning, and academic study; it is less directly opposite to concrete.

nonrepresentational

Used mainly for art that does not depict recognizable objects, so it fits the artistic sense but not the general philosophical sense.

Opposites

Word family

abstraction noun

An abstract idea, or the process of forming one.

abstractly adverb

In a way that deals with ideas rather than concrete things.

Commonly confused: abstract or abstruse? abstract or extract?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “abstract”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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