"Abstract" means something that is not concrete or tangible, but rather an idea or concept that exists in the mind. It is often used in the context of art or philosophy to describe something that is not meant to represent a physical object or person, but instead, to express a feeling or idea.
When to use it
"Abstract" has two main uses in English:
1. As an adjective, it describes something that is theoretical, not concrete, or not based on specific examples. For example:
- "The concept of democracy is abstract; it's not a physical thing we can touch."
- "She's struggling with the abstract concepts in this philosophy book."
2. As a noun, it refers to a summary or brief description of a research article, conference proceeding, or scientific paper. An abstract should convey the main idea of the work and highlight its key findings or conclusions. For example:
- "The abstract for this scientific study summarizes the research question, methods, and results."
- "Before reading a long article, I like to skim the abstract to see if it's relevant to my interests."
Example sentences
- The artist created an abstract painting that was open to interpretation.
- It can be difficult to grasp abstract concepts such as time or love.
- The lecture delved into abstract philosophical ideas about the nature of reality.
- The concrete wall was painted with an abstract pattern of shapes and colors.
- The company's new logo featured an abstract design that symbolized innovation and creativity.
- The novel was criticized for its abstract writing style, which made it hard to follow the plot.
- The scientist presented an abstract of his research at the conference, summarizing his findings in a few sentences.
- The poem was full of abstract imagery and metaphors that challenged the reader's understanding.
- The fashion designer experimented with abstract prints inspired by nature, such as swirling patterns reminiscent of ocean waves.
- The architecture of the modern building incorporated abstract shapes and lines, giving it a futuristic look.
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