abstract
gb/ˈæbstɹækt/ us/ˈæbstɹækt/
B1
English
~ 1500
elvont, absztrakt, kivonat, összefoglaló, kinyer, kiemel, nonfiguratív
B2
1
Usage pattern:
[something] is abstract
Justice is an abstract concept that can be difficult to define.
Az igazságosság elvont fogalom, amelyet nehéz lehet meghatározni.
Her paintings are highly abstract, with no clear subject.
A festményei erősen absztraktak, nincs rajtuk egyértelműen felismerhető téma.
Time is an abstract notion, but it affects everything we do.
The course covers both abstract theory and practical skills.
Learner examples
Love is an abstract idea.
A szerelem elvont fogalom.
Numbers are abstract.
A számok elvontak.
Happiness is an abstract feeling.
The word 'freedom' is abstract.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'abstract' with 'summary', which is another meaning of the word.
Meaning
Existing as an idea only
Collocations
abstract concept
|abstract idea
|abstract thinking
|abstract art
Synonyms
theoretical (Stresses being based on theory rather than practical application.)
|
conceptual (Focuses on being related to mental concepts or ideas.)
Antonyms
concrete (Refers to something real and tangible, the opposite of abstract.)
Themes
art
|philosophy
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
About something you can think about but cannot touch or see.
Relating to or existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence.
NOUN
B2
2
Usage pattern:
an abstract of [something]
The researcher submitted an abstract for the conference proceedings.
A kutató absztraktot nyújtott be a konferenciakötethez.
Please include an abstract at the beginning of your paper.
Kérjük, szerepeltessen absztraktot a dolgozata elején.
The journal requires abstracts to be under 250 words.
Learner examples
I read the abstract before the full paper.
A teljes cikk előtt elolvastam az absztraktot.
She wrote an abstract for her report.
Rövid összefoglalót írt a jelentéséhez.
The teacher asked for an abstract of the article.
Common mistake:
Some learners think 'abstract' here means 'difficult to understand'; in this context it means a short summary.
Meaning
Brief summary of a text
Collocations
write an abstract
|submit an abstract
|conference abstract
Synonyms
summary (A general term for a shortened version of something.)
|
synopsis (Often used for summaries of literary or dramatic works.)
Antonyms
full text (Refers to the complete document rather than a condensed version.)
Themes
academia
|writing
|research
|education
|communication
Definition
A short piece of writing that says the main ideas of a longer text.
A short written statement that gives the main facts or ideas of a book, article, speech, or other work.
VERB
C1
3
Usage pattern:
to abstract [something] from [somewhere]
The report abstracts key points from the data.
A jelentés kiemeli az adatokból a legfontosabb pontokat.
Oil was abstracted from deep underground reservoirs.
Az olajat mélyen a föld alatt fekvő tározókból nyerték ki.
The program can abstract relevant information from large datasets.
Learner examples
The machine abstracts water from the air.
A gép vizet nyer ki a levegőből.
He abstracted numbers from the table.
Kinyerte a számokat a táblázatból.
They abstract gold from the rock.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with the adjective meaning 'not concrete'. As a verb, it refers to removing or taking out.
Meaning
Remove or take away something
Collocations
abstract data
|abstract information from
|abstract resources
Synonyms
extract (More common in everyday contexts; 'abstract' is often more formal.)
|
remove (General term for taking something away.)
Antonyms
insert (To put something into something else, opposite of removing.)
Themes
science
|general
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To take something away from where it belongs.
To remove or take something away from somewhere, often in a way that separates it from its context.
B1
4
absztrakt
B1
nonfiguratív
C1
She specializes in large abstract paintings.
Nagy méretű absztrakt festményekre szakosodott.
The gallery features several abstract sculptures.
A galériában több absztrakt szobor is látható.
His work moved from realistic landscapes to abstract forms.
Learner examples
I like abstract art.
Szeretem az absztrakt művészetet.
This is an abstract painting.
Ez egy absztrakt festmény.
He makes abstract pictures.
Meaning
Non-representational in art
Collocations
abstract painting
|abstract sculpture
|abstract style
Synonyms
nonrepresentational (Technical art term meaning not depicting recognizable subjects.)
Antonyms
representational (Depicts recognizable subjects or objects.)
Themes
art
|arts_entertainment
Definition
Describes art made with shapes and colors instead of pictures of real things.
Describing art that does not attempt to represent external reality, but seeks to achieve its effect using shapes, colors, and textures.
Grammar
Dictionary form
abstract
IPA
GB/ˈæbstɹækt/
US/ˈæbstɹækt/
Syllables & stress
ab - stract (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (ab)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: abstract
Noun
- Base: abstract
- Plural: abstracts
Verb
- Base: abstract
- 3rd Person Singular: abstracts
- Present Participle: abstracting
- Past: abstracted
Word family
Forms
abstracts
noun
abstracting
verb
abstracted
verb
Core family
abstraction
noun C1
abstractly
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
concrete
adjective A2
Advanced or less common
abstractness
noun
Expressions
abstract away
1/æbstɹˈækt əwˈeɪ/
phrasal verb
technical
Hide details to focus on main idea
To remove or ignore details so you can focus on the main idea or structure.
Examples
- The software abstracts away the complexity of the hardware.
- Teachers often abstract away difficult details when first introducing a topic.
in the abstract
1/ˈɪn ðə ˈæbstɹækt/
fixed phrase
formal
Considered generally, not specifically
Thinking about something as a general idea, not in a real situation.
Examples
- In the abstract, his plan sounds reasonable, but it may not work in practice.
- She prefers to discuss problems in the abstract rather than deal with details.