Definition vs. Terminology

By Jaxson

Main Difference

The main difference between Definition and Terminology is that the Definition is a statement that explains the meaning of a term and Terminology is a study of terms and their use.

  • Definition

    A definition is a statement of the meaning of a term (a word, phrase, or other set of symbols). Definitions can be classified into two large categories, intensional definitions (which try to give the essence of a term) and extensional definitions (which proceed by listing the objects that a term describes). Another important category of definitions is the class of ostensive definitions, which convey the meaning of a term by pointing out examples. A term may have many different senses and multiple meanings, and thus require multiple definitions.In mathematics, a definition is used to give a precise meaning to a new term, instead of describing a pre-existing term. Definitions and axioms are the basis on which all of modern mathematics is constructed.

  • Terminology

    Terminology is the study of terms and their use. Terms are words and compound words or multi-word expressions that in specific contexts are given specific meanings—these may deviate from the meanings the same words have in other contexts and in everyday language. Terminology is a discipline that studies, among other things, the development of such terms and their interrelationships within a specialized domain. Terminology differs from lexicography, as it involves the study of concepts, conceptual systems and their labels (terms), whereas lexicography studies words and their meanings.

    Terminology is a discipline that systematically studies the “labelling or designating of concepts” particular to one or more subject fields or domains of human activity. It does this through the research and analysis of terms in context for the purpose of documenting and promoting consistent usage. Terminology can be limited to one or more languages (for example, “multilingual terminology” and “bilingual terminology”), or may have an interdisciplinarity focus on the use of terms in different fields.

Wikipedia
  • Definition (noun)

    A statement of the meaning of a word or word group or a sign or symbol (dictionary definitions).

  • Definition (noun)

    A statement expressing the essential nature of something; formulation

  • Definition (noun)

    The action or process of defining.

  • Definition (noun)

    The act of defining; determination of the limits.

  • Definition (noun)

    A product of defining.

  • Definition (noun)

    The action or power of describing, explaining, or making definite and clear.

    “Her comic genius is beyond definition.”

  • Definition (noun)

    Clarity of visual presentation, distinctness of outline or detail.

    “The definition of a telescope.”

    “Improve the definition of an image.”

  • Definition (noun)

    Clarity, especially of musical sound in reproduction.

  • Definition (noun)

    Sharp demarcation of outlines or limits.

    “A jacket with distinct waist definition.”

  • Definition (noun)

    The degree to which individual muscles are distinct on the body.

  • Definition (noun)

    A statement which provides a previous declaration with a value or body of a subroutine (in the case of function).

  • Definition (noun)

    A statement that establishes the referent of a term or notation.

  • Terminology (noun)

    The doctrine of terms; a theory of terms or appellations; a treatise on terms, a system of specialized terms.

  • Terminology (noun)

    The set of terms actually used in any business, art, science, or the like; nomenclature; technical terms.

Wiktionary
  • Definition (noun)

    a statement of the exact meaning of a word, especially in a dictionary

    “a dictionary definition of the verb”

  • Definition (noun)

    an exact statement or description of the nature, scope, or meaning of something

    “our definition of what constitutes poetry”

  • Definition (noun)

    the action or process of defining something

    “a question of definition”

    “issues of methodology and definition”

  • Definition (noun)

    the degree of distinctness in outline of an object, image, or sound

    “the clarity and definition of pictures can be aided by using computer graphics”

  • Definition (noun)

    the capacity of a device to make images distinct in outline

    “we’ve been pleased with the definition of this TV”

Oxford Dictionary

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