1. 1. A statement conveying fundamental character.
   2. A statement of the meaning of a word, phrase, or term, as in a dictionary entry.
2. The act or process of stating a precise meaning or significance; formulation of a meaning.
3. 1. The act of making clear and distinct: a definition of one's intentions.
   2. The state of being closely outlined or determined: "With the drizzle, the trees in the little clearing had lost definition" (Anthony Hyde).
   3. A determination of outline, extent, or limits: the definition of a President's authority.
4. 1. The clarity of detail in an optically produced image, such as a photograph, effected by a combination of resolution and contrast.
   2. The degree of clarity with which a televised image or broadcast signal is received.

[Middle English diffinicioun, from Old French definition, from Latin dēfīnītiō, dēfīnītiōn-, from dēfīnītus, past participle of dēfīnīre, to define. See define.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.