Both Uses of
function
in
Brave New World
- "It reminds me of a lower-caste Community Sing," she told Bernard. But a little later it was reminding her a good deal less of that innocuous function.
p. 113.9 *function = social event or ceremony
- One of the principal functions of a friend is to suffer (in a milder and symbolic form) the punishments that we should like, but are unable, to inflict upon our enemies.
p. 179.7 *functions = jobs
Definitions:
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(1)
(function as in: Its main function is to...) purpose, job, or natural activity
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(2)
(function as in: can't function well without sleep) work or operate -- sometimes to work or operate normally or in a particular way
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(3)
(function as in: I'm attending a function tonight) a social event or ceremony -- especially one attended for work or out of a sense of duty
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(4)
(function as in: oxygen is a function of altitude) saying one results from another; or saying that the amount of one thing is dependent upon the value of another.If x is a function of y, then x results from y; or the amount of x can be calculated based on the amount of y.
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(5)
(function as in: Amazon's new search function) computer code that performs a specific task
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(6)
(function as in: a mathematical function) a formula or mathematical expression that describes a relationship between variables
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(7)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) meaning too rare to warrant focus:
For more specialized meanings in math and chemistry, see a comprehensive dictionary.