function

English

Etymology

From Middle French function, from Old French fonction, from Latin functionem, accusative of functiō (performance, execution), from functus perfect participle of fungor (I perform, I execute, I discharge).

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈfʌŋ(k)ʃən/, /ˈfʌŋkʃn̩/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈfʌŋkʃən/, [ˈfʌŋkʃɪ̈n], [ˈfʌŋkʃn̩]
  • (file)
  • Hyphenation: func‧tion
  • Rhymes: -ʌŋkʃən

Noun

function (plural functions)

  1. What something does or is used for.
    • 2013 May-June, Katrina G. Claw, “Rapid Evolution in Eggs and Sperm”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3:
      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.
    Synonyms: aim, intention, purpose, role, use
  2. A professional or official position.
    Synonyms: occupation, office, part, role
  3. An official or social occasion.
    Synonyms: affair, occasion, social occasion, social function
  4. A relation where one thing is dependent on another for its existence, value, or significance.
  5. (mathematics) A relation in which each element of the domain is associated with exactly one element of the codomain.
    Synonyms: map, mapping, mathematical function, operator, transformation
    Hypernym: relation
  6. (computing) A routine that receives zero or more arguments and may return a result.
    Synonyms: procedure, routine, subprogram, subroutine, func, funct
  7. (biology) The physiological activity of an organ or body part.
  8. (chemistry) The characteristic behavior of a chemical compound.
  9. (anthropology) The role of a social practice in the continued existence of the group.

Hyponyms

The terms below need to be checked and allocated to the definitions (senses) of the headword above. Each term should appear in the sense for which it is appropriate. Use the templates {{syn|en|...}} or {{ant|en|...}} to add them to the appropriate sense(s).
astronomy: Hyponyms of function
computing: Hyponyms of function
logic: Hyponyms of function
management: Hyponyms of function
mathematics: Hyponyms of function
physics: Hyponyms of function

Derived terms

terms derived from function
terms derived from function

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout#Translations.

References

Verb

function (third-person singular simple present functions, present participle functioning, simple past and past participle functioned)

  1. (intransitive) To have a function.
    Synonyms: officiate, serve
  2. (intransitive) To carry out a function; to be in action.
    Synonyms: go, operate, run, work
    Antonym: malfunction

Translations


Middle French

Noun

function f (plural functions)

  1. function (what something's intended use is)

Descendants

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