abstract

Abstract refers to something that is not physical or concrete. (adjective)

An example of abstract is the idea of justice.

An abstract is a summary of a written work. (noun)

An example of an abstract is a written description of the findings of a scientific study.

To abstract something is to remove it or take it away. (verb)

An example of abstract is to take salt out of sea water.

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See abstract in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

thought of apart from any particular instances or material objects; not concrete
expressing a quality thought of apart from any particular or material object: beauty is an abstract word
not easy to understand because of being extremely complex, remote from concrete reality, etc.; abstruse
theoretical; not practical or applied
designating or of art abstracted from reality, in which designs or forms may be definite and geometric or fluid and amorphous: a generic term that encompasses various nonrealistic contemporary schools

noun

a brief statement of the essential content of a book, article, speech, court record, etc.; summary
an abstract thing, condition, idea, etc.

transitive verb

to take away; remove
to take dishonestly; steal
to think of (a quality) apart from any particular instance or material object that has it; also, to form (a general idea) from particular instances
to summarize; make an abstract of

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See abstract in American Heritage Dictionary 4

(ăb-străktˈ, ăbˈstrăktˌ)

adjective

Considered apart from concrete existence: an abstract concept.
Not applied or practical; theoretical. See Synonyms at theoretical.
Difficult to understand; abstruse: abstract philosophical problems.
Thought of or stated without reference to a specific instance: abstract words like truth and justice.
Impersonal, as in attitude or views.
Having an intellectual and affective artistic content that depends solely on intrinsic form rather than on narrative content or pictorial representation: abstract painting and sculpture.

noun (ăbˈstrăktˌ)

transitive verb (ăb-străktˈ) ab·stract·ed, ab·stract·ing, ab·stracts

To take away; remove.
To remove without permission; filch.
To consider (a quality, for example) without reference to a particular example or object.
(ăbˈstrăktˌ) To summarize; epitomize.
To create artistic abstractions of (something else, such as a concrete object or another style): “The Bauhaus Functionalists were . . . busy unornamenting and abstracting modern architecture, painting and design” (John Barth).

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