abstract

ab-stract · adjective

imported

Definitions

1.
Existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence.
2.
Relating to or denoting art that does not attempt to represent external reality.
3.
Not based on a particular instance; theoretical.
4.
A summary of the contents of a book, article, or speech.
5.
An abstract work of art.
6.
To extract or remove something.
7.
To consider something theoretically or separately from something else.

•
in the abstract — In theory rather than in practice.
•
abstract noun — A noun denoting an idea, quality, or state rather than a concrete object.

From Latin abstractus, past participle of abstrahere ("to draw away"), from abs- ("away") + trahere ("to draw, pull").