See Also: function(2)(dictionary)
function(encyclopedia)
Function(money)
function key(dictionary)
function(1)(dictionary)
Function(medicine)
Bessel function(dictionary)
Psychophysical function(health)
Utility function(finance)
Savings function(finance)

function(1) (iou)



function noun. M16.
[Old & mod. French fonction from Latin functio(n-), from funct- pa. ppl stem of fungi perform: see -ION.]
The activity proper or natural to a person or thing; the purpose or intended role of a person or thing; an office, duty, employment, or calling. Also, a particular activity or operation (among several); an organizational unit performing this. M16.
G. Murray The chief function of poetry is the criticism of life. J. G. Cozzens The function of ice was to melt. A. Storr The obsessional's habitual disgust with bodily functions, especially with those of excretion. Times The smooth..running of our centralised cashier function. Marketing Finance is shaking off its grey, dowdy image. It is becoming a creative, dynamic function.
b. An official duty. Orig. usu. in pl. M16.
J. Marquand The door was opened..by the door keeper,..ready to perform that function at any hour of the day.
c. An order or class (of people). L16-M18.
d. Chemistry. (The characteristic mode of reaction of) a functional group. M19.
e. Computing. Any of the basic operations in a computer; esp. one that corresponds to a single instruction. Freq. attrib. M20.
The action of functioning; performance (of). L16.
P. Parish The function of the liver, kidneys and brain may all be impaired. Belle (Australia) Opening up paths of communication so essential to effective office function.
Activity, action. L16-E17.
Shakespeare Macbeth Function is smother'd in surmise.
a. Orig. Roman Catholic Church. A religious ceremony. Now rare. M17.
b. A public ceremony or occasion; a formal or important social gathering. M19.
L. Whistler Selfconscious and unconfident, I..made few interesting friends, and went to few functions.
Math. A variable quantity regarded in relation to one or more other variables in terms of which it may be expressed or on which its value depends; a mathematical expression containing one or more variables. Also transf., (with of) something dependent on (another factor or factors). L18.
complementary function: see COMPLEMENTARY adjective 2. wave function: see WAVE noun. ZETA function.
R. M. Pirsig The time spans of scientific truths are an inverse function of the intensity of scientific effort. Nature Functions are considered..as mappings between sets. W. Golding What men believe is a function of what they are.
Comb.: function space Math. a topological space the elements of which are functions; function word Linguistics a word expressing a formal or grammatical purpose.
functionate verb intrans. (rare) = FUNCTION verb M19.
functionless adjective M19.