Define vs. Ascertain — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Define and Ascertain
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Definitions
Define
State or describe exactly the nature, scope, or meaning of
The contract will seek to define the client's obligations
Ascertain
To discover with certainty, as through examination or experimentation.
Define
Mark out the boundary or limits of
The river defines the park's boundary
Ascertain
(Archaic) To make certain, definite, and precise.
Define
To state the precise meaning of (a word or sense of a word, for example).
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Ascertain
To find out definitely; to discover or establish.
As soon as we ascertain what the situation is, we can plan how to proceed.
Define
To describe the nature or basic qualities of; explain
Define the properties of a new drug.
A study that defines people according to their median incomes.
Ascertain
(obsolete) To make (someone) certain or confident about something; to inform.
Define
To make clear the outline or form of; delineate
Gentle hills that were defined against the sky.
Ascertain
(archaic) To establish, to prove.
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Define
To specify distinctly
Define the weapons to be used in limited warfare.
Ascertain
(archaic) To ensure or effect.
Define
To give form or meaning to
"For him, a life is defined by action" (Jay Parini).
Ascertain
To render (a person) certain; to cause to feel certain; to make confident; to assure; to apprise.
When the blessed Virgin was so ascertained.
Muncer assured them that the design was approved of by Heaven, and that the Almighty had in a dream ascertained him of its effects.
Define
To make or write a definition.
Ascertain
To make (a thing) certain to the mind; to free from obscurity, doubt, or change; to make sure of; to fix; to determine.
The divine law . . . ascertaineth the truth.
The very deferring [of his execution] shall increase and ascertain the condemnation.
The ministry, in order to ascertain a majority . . . persuaded the queen to create twelve new peers.
The mildness and precision of their laws ascertained the rule and measure of taxation.
Define
To determine with precision; to mark out with distinctness; to ascertain or exhibit clearly.
The defining power of an optical instrument
Ascertain
To find out or learn for a certainty, by trial, examination, or experiment; to get to know; as, to ascertain the weight of a commodity, or the purity of a metal.
He was there only for the purpose of ascertaining whether a descent on England was practicable.
Define
(obsolete) To settle, decide an argument etc.
Ascertain
After a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study;
Find the product of two numbers
The physicist who found the elusive particle won the Nobel Prize
Define
To express the essential nature of something.
I define myself as a techno-anarchist.
Your past mistakes do not define who you are.
Ascertain
Be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something;
He verified that the valves were closed
See that the curtains are closed
Control the quality of the product
Define
To state the meaning of a word, phrase, sign, or symbol.
The textbook defined speed as velocity divided by time.
Ascertain
Find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by making an inquiry or other effort;
I want to see whether she speaks French
See whether it works
Find out if he speaks Russian
Check whether the train leaves on time
Define
To describe, explain, or make definite and clear; used to request the listener or other person to elaborate or explain more clearly his or her intended meaning of a word or expression.
Person 1: Is she good at math?
Person 2: Define "good." If you mean if she is faster than the average middle schooler at multiplication, then yes. If you mean if she is able to do multivariable calculus, then no.
Person 2: Define "good." If you mean if she is faster than the average middle schooler at multiplication, then yes. If you mean if she is able to do multivariable calculus, then no.
Ascertain
Learn or discover with certainty
Define
To demark sharply the outlines or limits of an area or concept.
To define the legal boundaries of a property
Define
(mathematics) To establish the referent of a term or notation.
Define
(programming) A kind of macro in source code that replaces one text string with another wherever it occurs.
Define
To fix the bounds of; to bring to a termination; to end.
Define
To determine or clearly exhibit the boundaries of; to mark the limits of; as, to define the extent of a kingdom or country.
Define
To determine with precision; to mark out with distinctness; to ascertain or exhibit clearly; as, the defining power of an optical instrument.
Rings . . . very distinct and well defined.
Define
To determine the precise signification of; to fix the meaning of; to describe accurately; to explain; to expound or interpret; as, to define a word, a phrase, or a scientific term.
They define virtue to be life ordered according to nature.
Define
To determine; to decide.
Define
Give a definition for the meaning of a word;
Define `sadness'
Define
Determine the essential quality of
Define
Determine the nature of;
What defines a good wine?
Define
Delineate the form or outline of;
The tree was clearly defined by the light
The camera could define the smallest object
