defining
part of speech
adjective (defining); also the -ing form of the verb define (define, defines, defined, defining)
meaning for a pupil
1) Most important in showing what someone or something is really like: «a defining moment». tree →
2) (verb) Giving the exact meaning of a word, or setting out the limits of something. tree →
3) (grammar) A «defining relative clause» gives information that tells you exactly which person or thing is meant. tree →
sense in the lessons
In stories a «defining moment» is the event that changes a character for ever. In English lessons, «defining» clauses use «who», «which» or «that» without commas: «The girl who won the race is my sister.» In maths and science, «defining» a word gives its exact meaning, such as defining a prime number. Phrases: «a defining moment», «a defining feature», «defining characteristic».
examples
- Winning the final was a defining moment for the team. tree →
- A defining feature of a triangle is that it has three sides. tree →
- We are defining the new words in our vocabulary books. tree →
- Kindness is her defining quality. tree →
- Defining what a «fair» game means helped end the argument. tree →
- In the sentence «The book that I read was long», «that I read» is a defining clause. tree →
note
The verb is «define»; the noun is «definition». «Definitive» is a different word meaning final or best. Defining clauses take no commas; non-defining ones need commas.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «defining» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.