how to write a definition

Why is the manangry?

Who are theroyalties?

What´s theproblem?

When we work in a specialisedarea, like banking or trade, wewill often use words that are unique or particular to our field.

In International trade, we willoften find words like these…

customs

taxes

open account

We may sometimeshave to explain themto people who are notacquainted with ourarea of study.

How do we help themto understand the idea

or concept we are talking about?

What is a definition?

A definition is a thoroughdescription of the meaningof a lexical unit.

http://www.sil.org/linguistics/GlossaryOfLinguisticTerms/WhatIsADefinition.htm

It is a statement that explainsthe meaning of a term(a word, phrase, or other set of symbols).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definition

What does a definition do?

A definition answers the question

What is………………………..?

What does……………. mean?

So, how do we write a definition?

The term or concept youare defining.

The class or group to which it belongs.

Characteristics that makeit different from others.

When we write a definition, we describe the mostimportant characteristics of the word or concept.

Let´s look at this example.

A lion is a cat.

But not all cats are lions.

Let’s look at these definitionsof a lion.

A large tawny-coloured cat that lives in prides, found in Africa and NW India. Themale has a flowing shaggy mane and takeslittle part in hunting, which is done cooperatively by the females.

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/lion

A large gregarious predatory felinemammal, Panthera leo, of open country in parts of Africa and India, having a tawnyyellow coat and, in the male, a shaggymane.

http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/lion

Can you find the different parts of the definition?

Lion

Feline mammal

Tawny yellow coat, shaggy mane (male)Found in Africa and India

Female hunts

Let´s look at some examplesrelated to International trade.

Free trade is a policy by whicha government does notdiscriminate against imports orinterfere with exports byapplying tariffs (to imports) orsubsidies (to exports) or quotas.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_trade

A royalty is a payment to anowner for the use of property, especially patents, copyrightedworks, franchises or natural resources.

http://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/royalty.asp

A duty is tax levied on certaingoods (commondities), servicesor financial transactions.

Adapted from http://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/duty.asp

Now it’s your turn.

Make sure you understandthe term.

• Write down what you think the termmeans.

• Check your understanding of theterm with other sources.

Decide on the characteristics.

Ask yourself these questions:

• What are the characteristics of the term/concept/word?

• How is it different from others?• How can I describe it?

Be precise and clear.

• Use familiar and simple language.

• Define a verb with a verb and anoun with a noun.

A tax is a compulsory contribution to staterevenue, levied by the government on workers' income and business profits or added to thecost of some goods, services, and transactions.

Both are nouns.

To tax is to impose impose a duty orcharge on (someone or something).

Both are verbs.

What words introduce a definition?

Here are some words you can use:

• is defined as• is concerned with• relates to• involves• deals with

Now, put your definitiontogether.

Term Verb Class Characteristics

Enjoy writing your definitions.