TECHNICAL

DEFINITION
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 Technical Definition

• Is a detailed description
of term, process, or
phenomenon.

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 Kinds of Technical Definition

• Parenthetical
Definition
• Sentence Definition
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 1. Parenthetical Definition

• Define term with a short description

enclosed in parentheses immediately after
the term
• Example: The redundancy (repetitiveness) will
be increased as sentences of roughly the same
topic are put together in a paragraph.

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 How to write a Parenthetical Definition

• It may also be a longer phrase or clause

• Example: Revenue bonds, bonds issued to
finance projects that will eventually
generate their own revenues such as a toll
bridge, are sold by his uncle.

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 2. Sentence Definition
• It features an explanation of a word or phrase
using one sentence. A sentence definition
usually follows a standard pattern.
• 1. The item being defined is placed in a class or
category of similar items.
• 2. The item defined is distinguished from them.

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 Definition
• A definition answers the question, “What is it?”
• A definition is necessary because
– a word or concept sometimes has more than one meaning.
– a term is being used in a special way.
• A definition should be complete enough to include all
the items in the category yet enough to eliminate
items that do not belong.

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 Definition
• Most definitions by their nature are imperfect, so writers use
them in a provisional way.
• A good definition should include the general classification of a
term plus the specific characteristics that differentiate the
term from other members of its class.
• A good definition should be thoughtful and accurate, but don’t
have to be exhaustive.
• Definitions are just like road signs to tell your readers what
you mean.
– Good road signs are never cluttered and should point the way clearly.

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 Other Types of Definition
• Logical definition
• Definition by negation
• Operational definition
• Definition by description
• Definition by metaphor
• Definition by quotation
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 Logical Definition
• A logical definition distinguishes an item
from others like it.
– A beret is a cap that is flat, round, and usually
made of felt.
– Plague is a disease that is a persistent
epidemic.
– A friend is a person to whom we feel close.
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 Definition by negation
• Definition by negation says what
something is not.
– FM radio is the opposite of AM.
– Chinese is not at all like English.
– A friend won’t let you down.

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 Operational Definition
• Operational definition tells how something
works or what it is used for.
– A rolling pin is for flattening dough.
– A Dutch door lets the outside air in but keeps
animals out.
– A friend will be there when you need her.

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 Definition by Description
• Definition by description mentions some of
the observable attributes of an item.
– A penguin is a bird with short wings and
webbed feet.
– A clarinet is a long, black woodwind instrument
with a flare at the end.
– A friend is someone who really talks to you.
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 Definition by Metaphor
• Definition by metaphor compares one
thing to another.
– War is hell.
– The Midwest is America’s breadbasket.
– A friend is one’s greatest treasure.

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 Definition by Quotation
• Definition by quotation uses the well-put
words of others to define:
– “Old men are children for a second time.” ―
Aristophanes
– “Ambition, the soldier’s virtue.” ― Shakespeare
– “A fool at forty is a fool indeed.” ― Edward Young

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 Definition and Your Audience
• Respect your readers.
• Do not confuse them with
undefined terms.
• Suit definitions to particular
audiences.
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 Using English To Define
• Definition formula:
– Term = Class + Characteristics
– EX: A giraffe is an animal which is a tall,
African animal with a very long neck.
– The characteristics often appear as a relative
clause beginning with which, that, who, or
where.
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 Using English To Define
• Definition formula:
– Term = Class + Characteristics
– EX: Chemical energy is potential energy that is stored in gasoline, food,
and oil.
• Term = chemical energy
• Class = potential energy
• Characteristics = that is stored in gasoline, food, and oil
– EX: Mechanical energy is energy related to the movement of objects.
• Term = mechanical energy
• Class = energy
• Characteristics = (that is) related to the movement of objects
– The characteristics often appear as a relative clause beginning with
which, that, who, or where.

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 Using English To Define
• Use the form of an infinitive phrase or prepositional phrase to
express the characteristics
– Term = Class + Characteristics
– EX: Energy is the ability to do work. … Kinetic energy is the energy of
motion.
• Term = energy
• Class = ability
• Characteristics = to do work (Infinitive Phrase)
• Term = kinetic energy
• Class = energy
• Characteristics = of motion (Prepositional Phrase)

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 Using English To Define
• If there is more than one way to define
something, the modal of possibility may is
used.
– EX: Thermal energy may be defined as the kinetic
energy of molecules.
• Term = thermal energy
• Class = kinetic energy
• Characteristics = of molecules
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 Using English To Define
• The characteristics could precede the
class
– EX: Potential energy is stored energy.
• Term = potential energy
• Characteristics = stored
• Class = energy

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 Using English To Define
• Definitions require the present simple
tense and the verb to be.
• The definite article, the, is usually not
used with the term being defined
because definitions are general
statements.
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 Sentence Patterns
Term = General Class Word + Specific characteristics

An astronomer a scientist who studies the universe.

A barometer is an instrument that measure air pressure.
Conduction a process by which heat is transferred.
A laboratory a place where experiments are performed.

Physics the study of matter and energy.

is
A volt a unit for measuring electrical pressure.

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 Sentence Patterns (cont.)
Term = Specific characteristics + General class word

Mercury liquid metal.

A triangle is a three-sided plane figure.
Asbestos fire-resistant mineral.
A dinosaur prehistoric reptile.
A monkey small, long-tailed primate.

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 Writing Skills
• A definition may be done as little as a sentence or a
much as a book.
• Use an extended definition to help define a complex
concept.
• An extended definition includes the basic parts of a
formal definition as well as additional information that
may include description, examples, classification,
comparison, explanation, or other details.

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 Exemplifying
• A picture is worth a thousand words.
• One example is worth a thousand explanation.
• An example brings the general or abstract statement down to a specific
or concrete image.
• An example adds impact, making the statement more memorable,
more interesting, and more persuasive, and providing evidence for it.
• Scientists use examples to explain or clarify a concept and to give
evidence to support it.
– Examples serve to test the validity of a point.
– If no example can be found to illustrate a point, there may not be a point.

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 Using English to Exemplify
• Examples make a point clearer and at the
same time, give evidence to support it,
– EX: The physical states of a substance is
affected by its temperature. For example, at
a temperature of 0 ° C or below, water is a
solid (ice); above 0° C it becomes a liquid;
and at 100 ° C it turns to a gas (steam).

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 Using English to Exemplify
• An example may comprise a few words, a
sentence, a paragraph or more.
– EX: Temperature alters the color of matter.
Iron, for example, turns red, then orange,
and then white at increasingly higher
temperatures.

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 Using English to Exemplify
• Examples are not always marked with clue words such
as for example, for instance, and to illustrate.
• Examples can sometimes be identified by the context of
the paragraph.
– EX: The size of an object is affected by temperature. A glass
may break when boiling water is poured into it…
– EX: Temperature also affects the pressure of a gas. If a closed
glass tube is heated, the increased pressure inside will
cause it to break.

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 Using English to Exemplify
• Use more than one example to explain the
various aspects of a concept.
– EX: Living things are very sensitive to comparatively
small temperature changes. This is exemplified
when we touch something very hot or cold and
feel pain. … We pasteurize milk and cook meat to
kill harmful bacteria and other organisms that
cannot tolerate heat.

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 Sentence Patterns
For example,
For instance, iron turns red when it is heated.
To be specific,
To illustrate,

for example,
Iron, turns red when heated.
for instance,

an example
Iron is a case of a substance that turns red when heated.
an instance
an illustration
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 Sentence Patterns
exemplifies
Iron the concept of heat affecting color.
illustrates

The concept of heat affecting color is exemplified by iron.

illustrated

Solids such as iron and copper turn red when heated.

like

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 When Writing Examples
• Examples in science are usually written in the
present simple tense.
• Examples are also used to illustrate terms, and
these examples are similar to classification.
• Examples are not always marked with clue
words and often can only be identified by
context of the paragraph.

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 Writing Skills
• Use examples to make your topic
sentence clear and memorable.
– Examples enable reader to understand the
topic sentence even if they do not know the
meaning of some unknown terminologies.

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