function

noun
/ˈfʌŋ(k)ʃən/UK/ˈfʊŋ(k)ʃən//ˈfʌŋkʃən/US

Etymology

From Middle French function, from Old French fonction, from Latin functiō (“performance, execution”), from functus, perfect participle of fungor (“to perform, execute, discharge”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰewg- (“to enjoy”).

  1. derived from *bʰewg-
  2. derived from functiō — “performance, execution
  3. derived from fonction
  4. borrowed from function

Definitions

  1. What something does or is used for.

    • Many genes with reproductive roles also have antibacterial and immune functions, which indicate that the threat of microbial attack on the sperm or egg may be a major influence on rapid evolution during reproduction.
  2. A professional or official position.

  3. An official or social occasion.

    • Our hotel is hosting a function for all the warehouse workers on the night of April 18.
  4. + 9 more definitions
    1. Something which is dependent on or stems from another thing

      Something which is dependent on or stems from another thing; a result or concomitant.

      • Though most of the cases here cover European encounters with non-Europeans, it is not the intention of the book to give the impression that genocide is a function of European colonialism and imperialism alone.
    2. A relation where one thing is dependent on another for its existence, value, or…

      A relation where one thing is dependent on another for its existence, value, or significance.

    3. A relation in which each element of the domain is associated with exactly one element of…

      A relation in which each element of the domain is associated with exactly one element of the codomain.

    4. A routine that receives zero or more arguments and may return a result.

    5. The physiological activity of an organ or body part.

    6. The characteristic behavior of a chemical compound.

    7. The role of a social practice in the continued existence of the group.

    8. To have a function.

    9. To carry out a function

      To carry out a function; to be in action.

      • Although the laying workers functioned in a queenlike manner, they were unable to suppress ovarian development as effectively as the queen.

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

A definitional loop anchored at function. Each word in the ring is defined by the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself. Scroll to it and watch.

01function02social03outgoing04comfortably05effort06performing07perform

A definitional loop anchored at function. Each word in the ring appears in the definition of the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself.

7 hops · closes at function

curated · pre-corpus. live cycle detection across the full graph is the next major milestone.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA