abstraction
UK: əbˈstrækʃn̩ | US: æbˈstrækʃn̩
n. the act of considering something as a general quality or characteristic, apart from concrete realities
n. an abstract idea or term
n. a work of art that does not attempt to represent external reality
abstraction = abs<away> + tract<pull> + ion<noun suffix>
- abs (from Latin ab-, meaning "away")
- tract (from Latin tractus, past participle of trahere, meaning "to pull, draw")
- ion (noun-forming suffix indicating an action or process)
Etymology Origin:
The word abstraction originates from Latin abstractio, combining abs- ("away") and trahere ("to pull"). It originally described the mental act of "drawing away" qualities from concrete objects to form generalized ideas. Over time, it expanded to philosophy (e.g., abstract concepts) and art (non-representational works), reflecting the core idea of separation from tangible specifics.
The abstraction of "justice" varies across cultures.
Her painting is a bold exploration of color and abstraction.
Programming relies heavily on the abstraction of complex systems.
Philosophers debate whether numbers exist beyond abstraction.
The report lost clarity due to excessive abstraction.