functional
part of speech
adjective (functional, more functional, most functional)
meaning for a pupil
1) Working properly and able to do its job: a functional lift goes up and down. tree →
2) Made to be useful and practical rather than pretty: a functional kitchen has what you need and no decorations. tree →
3) (maths) To do with functions, rules that turn each input number into one output number. tree →
4) (formal) Having a job or role inside a system: the heart is a functional part of the body. tree →
sense in the lessons
In science and design lessons «functional» means «does the job», and pupils are asked to make a product that is both functional and attractive. In maths it links to functions (input-output machines). In everyday life it is used for working machines and plain, practical things. Phrases: fully functional, functional design, functional clothing, still functional.
examples
- The old printer is slow, but it is still functional. tree →
- Our design must be functional as well as good-looking. tree →
- The school canteen has plain, functional tables. tree →
- After the storm, only one lift was functional. tree →
- Wellies are functional rather than fashionable. tree →
- The robot we built in class is now fully functional! tree →
- A function machine turns each input into one output. tree →
- Each part of a flower has a functional role. tree →
note
Adjective formed from «function» + -al. Opposite: non-functional, broken, or decorative. «Functional» does not mean «fun»; the first letters are the same but the meanings are not. Do not mix it up with «fictional» (made up, from stories).
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «functional» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.