1
Core action
Remove, extract, or draw something away; in scholarship, summarize the essential content of a longer work.
Example
The solvent can abstract the pigment from the mixture.
abstract
/æbˈstrækt/ · ab-STRAKTverb
Remove, extract, or draw something away; in scholarship, summarize the essential content of a longer work.
Use abstract to express this relationship precisely: remove, extract, or draw something away; in scholarship, summarize the essential content of a longer work.
What abstract Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
2
Common construction
Use this expression in its normal grammatical frame so the relationship between the surrounding ideas remains explicit.
Example
Researchers abstracted key information from each clinical record.
3
Reasoning effect
It tells the reader how to interpret the timing, scope, evidence, contrast, condition, or consequence in the statement.
Example
The index abstracts the essential argument of every article.
Use abstract Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
The solvent can abstract the pigment from the mixture.
Researchers abstracted key information from each clinical record.
The index abstracts the essential argument of every article.
Precision Matters
Abstract overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
abstract
vs.Means remove, extract, or draw something away; in scholarship, summarize the essential content of a longer work.
suppress
Means prevent, restrain, stop, or keep something from being expressed, revealed, or developing.
abstract
vs.Means remove, extract, or draw something away; in scholarship, summarize the essential content of a longer work.
popularize
Means make an idea, subject, activity, or product widely known, understood, or liked.
abstract
vs.Means remove, extract, or draw something away; in scholarship, summarize the essential content of a longer work.
adapt
Means modify something for a new purpose or situation, or adjust successfully to changed conditions.
abstract
vs.Means remove, extract, or draw something away; in scholarship, summarize the essential content of a longer work.
interpret
Means explain, understand, or assign meaning or significance to information, language, evidence, or events.
Test abstract in Context
The solvent draws or extracts the dye away from the original liquid.
1
In the separation process, the solvent will ___ the dye from the water and carry it into a second layer.