real

(rēˈəl, rēl)

1. a. Being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verifiable existence: real objects; a real illness.
   b. True and actual; not imaginary, alleged, or ideal: real people, not ghosts; a film based on real life.
   c. Of or founded on practical matters and concerns: a recent graduate experiencing the real world for the first time.
2. Genuine and authentic; not artificial or spurious: real mink; real humility.
3. Being no less than what is stated; worthy of the name: a real friend.
4. Free of pretense, falsehood, or affectation: tourists hoping for a real experience on the guided tour.
5. Not to be taken lightly; serious: in real trouble.
6. Philosophy Existing objectively in the world regardless of subjectivity or conventions of thought or language.
7. Relating to, being, or having value reckoned by actual purchasing power: real income; real growth.
8. Physics Of, relating to, or being an image formed by light rays that converge in space.
9. Mathematics Of, relating to, or being a real number.
10. Law Of or relating to stationary or fixed property, such as buildings or land.

1. A thing or whole having actual existence. Often used with the: theories beyond the realm of the real.
2. Mathematics A real number.

Related Forms:

• realˈness noun

(rā-älˈ)

(rā-älˈ)

1. A monetary unit formerly used in Portugal.
2. See Table at currency.