Function Meaning
/ˈfʌŋ(k)ʃən/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounWhat something does or is used for.
nounA professional or official position.
Sentence Examples
Some English adverbs function as adjectives.
The motor does not function properly.
The club serves a useful function as a meeting place.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
The main ____ of the machine is to cut paper quickly.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The primary ____ of the new software is to help users manage their personal finances more effectively.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree Old French fonction Middle French functionbor. English function From Middle French function, from Old French fonction, from Latin functiō (“performance, execution”), from functus, perfect participle of fungor (“to perform, execute, discharge”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰewg- (“to enjoy”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Many genes with reproductive roles also have antibacterial and immune functions, which indicate that the threat of microbial attack on the sperm or egg may be a major influence on rapid evolution during reproduction."
— 2013 May-June, Katrina G. Claw, “Rapid Evolution in Eggs and Sperm”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3:
"Glu Mobile, who realigned its workforce towards centralized GaaS functions last year, announced earlier this month that it will shut down GameSpy Technology on May 31. The service provides multiplayer functionality for dozens of games on consoles, computers and mobile devices."
— 2014 May 1, Jenna Pitcher, “Glu Mobile acquires Diner Dash developer PlayFirst”, in Polygon, archived from the original on 27 Sep 2023:
"Though most of the cases here cover European encounters with non-Europeans, it is not the intention of the book to give the impression that genocide is a function of European colonialism and imperialism alone."
— 2008 June 1, A. Dirk Moses, “Preface”, in Empire, Colony, Genocide: Conquest, Occupation, and Subaltern Resistance in World History, Berghahn Books, →ISBN, page x:
"Although the laying workers functioned in a queenlike manner, they were unable to suppress ovarian development as effectively as the queen."
— 1991, Kenneth G Ross, Robert W Matthews, The social biology of wasps:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The main ____ of the machine is to cut paper quickly.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The primary ____ of the new software is to help users manage their personal finances more effectively.