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Technical definition

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A technical definition is a definition in technical communication describing or explaining technical terminology. Technical definitions are used to introduce the vocabulary which makes communication in a particular field succinct and unambiguous. For example, the iliac crest from medical terminology is the top ridge of the hip bone (see ).

Types of technical definitions

There are three main types of technical definitions.¹

Power definitions
Secondary definitions
Extended definitions

Examples

Aniline, a benzene ring with an amine group, is a versatile chemical used in many organic syntheses.

The genus Helogale (dwarf mongooses) contains two species.

Sentence definitions

These definitions generally appear in three different places: within the text, in margin notes, or in a glossary. Regardless of position in the document, most sentence definitions follow the basic form of term, category, and distinguishing features.

Examples

A major scale is a diatonic scale which has the semitone interval pattern 2-2-1-2-2-2-1.

term: major scale
category: diatonic scales
distinguishing features: semitone interval pattern 2-2-1-2-2-2-1

In mathematics, an abelian group is a group which is commutative.

term: abelian group
category: mathematical groups
distinguishing features: commutative

Extended definitions

When a term needs to be explained in great detail and precision, an extended definition is used. They can range in size from a few sentences to many pages. Shorter ones are usually found in the text, and lengthy definitions are placed in a glossary. Relatively complex concepts in mathematics require extended definitions in which mathematical objects are declared (e.g., let x be a real number...) and then restricted by conditions (often signaled by the phrase such that). These conditions often employ the universal and/or existential quantifiers (for all ( $\forall$ ), there exists ( $\exists$ )).

Note: In mathematical definitions, convention dictates the use of the word if between the term to be defined and the definition; however, definitions should be interpreted as though if and only if were used in place of if.

Examples

Definition of the limit of a single variable function:

Let $f$ be a real-valued function of a real variable and $x$ , , and be real numbers. We say that (or, ) and write if, for all , there exists such that whenever satisfies , the inequality holds.

References

1Johnson-Sheehan, R: Technical Communication Today, pages 507-522. Pearson Longman, 2007

Study aids for Technical definition

Terminology

if: Note: In mathematical definitions, convention dictates the use of the word if between the term to be defined and the definition; however, definitions should be interpreted as though if and only if were used in place of if.
if and only if: Note: In mathematical definitions, convention dictates the use of the word if between the term to be defined and the definition; however, definitions should be interpreted as though if and only if were used in place of if.
the: We say that the limit of f as x approaches a is L (or, f(x) tends to L as x approaches a) and write \lim _{x\to a}f(x)=L if, for all \epsilon >0, there exists \delta >0 such that whenever x satisfies 0<|x-a|<\delta, the inequality |f(x)-L|<\epsilon holds.
limit: We say that the limit of f as x approaches a is L (or, f(x) tends to L as x approaches a) and write \lim _{x\to a}f(x)=L if, for all \epsilon >0, there exists \delta >0 such that whenever x satisfies 0<|x-a|<\delta, the inequality |f(x)-L|<\epsilon holds.
of: Let f be a real-valued function of a real variable and x, a, and L be real numbers.
as: We say that the limit of f as x approaches a is L (or, f(x) tends to L as x approaches a) and write \lim _{x\to a}f(x)=L if, for all \epsilon >0, there exists \delta >0 such that whenever x satisfies 0<|x-a|<\delta, the inequality |f(x)-L|<\epsilon holds.
approaches: We say that the limit of f as x approaches a is L (or, f(x) tends to L as x approaches a) and write \lim _{x\to a}f(x)=L if, for all \epsilon >0, there exists \delta >0 such that whenever x satisfies 0<|x-a|<\delta, the inequality |f(x)-L|<\epsilon holds.
is: We say that the limit of f as x approaches a is L (or, f(x) tends to L as x approaches a) and write \lim _{x\to a}f(x)=L if, for all \epsilon >0, there exists \delta >0 such that whenever x satisfies 0<|x-a|<\delta, the inequality |f(x)-L|<\epsilon holds.
tends to: We say that the limit of f as x approaches a is L (or, f(x) tends to L as x approaches a) and write \lim _{x\to a}f(x)=L if, for all \epsilon >0, there exists \delta >0 such that whenever x satisfies 0<|x-a|<\delta, the inequality |f(x)-L|<\epsilon holds.

Terms the article defines in bold, quoted in context.

Recent changes

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Technical communication

376 words · 1 references · revision 1243286972 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Types of technical definitions

Examples

Sentence definitions

Examples

Extended definitions

Examples

References

Terminology

Recent changes

Rabbit hole

Terminology

Key concepts

Types of technical definitions

Examples

Sentence definitions

Examples

Extended definitions

Examples

References