abstract

• "he loved her only in the abstract--not in person"

Synonyms

• abstractiona concept or idea not associated with any specific instance; the act of withdrawing or removing something ; the process of formulating general concepts by abstracting common properties of instances ; an abstract painting ; preoccupation with something to the exclusion of all else ; a general concept formed by extracting common features from specific examples

Synonyms

• outlinedescribe roughly or briefly or give the main points or summary of; draw up an outline or sketch for something; trace the shape of ; the line that appears to bound an object ; a sketchy summary of the main points of an argument or theory ; a schematic or preliminary plan
• synopsisa sketchy summary of the main points of an argument or theory
• precismake a summary (of) ; a sketchy summary of the main points of an argument or theory

• "separated from embodiment"
• "abstract words like `truth' and `justice'"

• "a large abstract painting"

Synonyms

• abstractionistnot representing or imitating external reality or the objects of nature; a painter of abstract pictures
• nonfigurativenot representing or imitating external reality or the objects of nature
• nonobjectivenot representing or imitating external reality or the objects of nature

• "abstract reasoning"
• "abstract science"

• "consider abstractly or theoretically"

Synonyms

• pilfermake off with belongings of others
• cabbagemake off with belongings of others ; any of various types of cabbage ; informal terms for money ; any of various cultivars of the genus Brassica oleracea grown for their edible leaves or flowers
• purloinmake off with belongings of others
• pincha painful or straitened circumstance; an injury resulting from getting some body part squeezed ; a slight but appreciable amount; a sudden unforeseen crisis (usually involving danger) that requires immediate action; a small sharp bite or snip ; a squeeze with the fingers ; the act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal); squeeze tightly between the fingers; make ridges into by pinching together ; make off with belongings of others ; cut the top off; irritate as if by a nip, pinch, or tear
• snarfmake off with belongings of others
• swipea sweeping stroke or blow ; strike with a swiping motion ; make off with belongings of others
• hooka catch for locking a door ; a sharp curve or crook; anything that serves as an enticement ; a mechanical device that is curved or bent to suspend or hold or pull something ; a curved or bent implement for suspending or pulling something ; a golf shot that curves to the left for a right-handed golfer; a short swinging punch delivered from the side with the elbow bent ; a basketball shot made over the head with the hand that is farther from the basket ; fasten with a hook ; rip off; make a piece of needlework by interlocking and looping thread with a hooked needle; hit a ball and put a spin on it so that it travels to the left ; take by theft; make off with belongings of others ; hit with a hook; catch with a hook; to cause (someone or oneself) to become dependent (on something, especially a narcotic drug) ; secure with the foot; entice and trap; approach with an offer of sexual favors
• sneakmarked by quiet and caution and secrecy; a person who is regarded as underhanded and furtive and contemptible ; someone who prowls or sneaks about; someone acting as an informer or decoy for the police ; to go stealthily or furtively; put, bring, or take in a secretive or furtive manner; make off with belongings of others ; pass on stealthily
• filchmake off with belongings of others
• nobbledeprive of by deceit; make off with belongings of others ; take away to an undisclosed location against their will and usually in order to extract a ransom; disable by drugging
• liftthe act of giving temporary assistance ; the component of the aerodynamic forces acting on an airfoil that opposes gravity ; the event of something being raised upward; a wave that lifts the surface of the water or ground ; a powered conveyance that carries skiers up a hill ; a device worn in a shoe or boot to make the wearer look taller or to correct a shortened leg ; one of the layers forming the heel of a shoe or boot ; lifting device consisting of a platform or cage that is raised and lowered mechanically in a vertical shaft in order to move people from one floor to another in a building ; plastic surgery to remove wrinkles and other signs of aging from your face; transportation of people or goods by air (especially when other means of access are unavailable) ; a ride in a car; the act of raising something; raise from a lower to a higher position; take hold of something and move it to a different location; move upwards; move upward; make audible; cancel officially; make off with belongings of others ; raise or haul up with or as if with mechanical help; invigorate or heighten; raise in rank or condition; take off or away by decreasing; rise up; pay off (a mortgage) ; take without referencing from someone else's writing or speech; take illegally; fly people or goods to or from places not accessible by other means; take (root crops) out of the ground; call to stop the hunt or to retire, as of hunting dogs ; rise upward, as from pressure or moisture; put an end to; remove (hair) by scalping ; remove from a seedbed or from a nursery; remove from a surface; perform cosmetic surgery on someone's face

• "Let's abstract away from this particular example"