Idioms

define

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define (something) as (something)

To describe, designate, or label something as something. Oh, Molly's not coming to the parade because she defines these kind of events as chaotic and overwhelming. Dad won't go with you—he defines musicals as universally boring. He even fell asleep last year at The Music Man! Why would I go to a political rally with you? I define those kinds of things as three-ring circuses without the big top.
See also: define

defining moment

1. A point in time at which some essential trait or aspect of someone's or something's character or nature is made apparent. Having to confront my boss was a defining moment for me—it was when I realized that I was so much stronger and more capable than I had been trained to believe. This will prove to be a defining moment in the political party's identity. Either they uphold their core ideologies, or they embrace the more extreme views that have been gaining mainstream popularity. If you do well on this tough assignment, it could be your defining moment in the newsroom.
2. A point in time at which the future of someone or something is defined or decided. The release of their incredibly popular MyPhone was a defining moment for the company, turning them almost overnight into a major corporate juggernaut. I had always gotten good grades in school, but receiving the special award for my research project became a defining moment in my academic career. Not getting into Harvard was something of a defining moment for me. I went to Yale instead and that's where I met my now-husband.
See also: define, moment
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

define something as something

to label something as being something. I define that kind of behavior as just plain rude! We have to define that comment as careless and unthinking.
See also: define
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
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References in periodicals archive
(1) X is called a definable subset of (U; C) if [bar.C](X) = [C.bar](X).
Observe that the predicate <, as restriction of the order on Z to N, is already definable in (N; +}.
Powerful test control features such as definable waveforms, auto-tuning, and amplitude control enable sophisticated users to meet unique testing requirements for new materials and applications.
Significant changes include a new 'look and feel' for the front-end applications, unlimited airport definable fields and the ability to enrol and manage iris biometrics via the access system.
He said: "What has happened is the culture of the country has changed in a definable way as a result of it.
He found money behavior falls into six definable patterns, or "Money Types," and everyone has a predominant financial personality.
Pro Version 4 also supports up to 50 definable breaks including paid, unpaid, fixed or flexible.
The on-board LCD provides on-site viewing of user definable parameters while full data access is available on its communications ports.
NearPoint manages e-mail in a central indexed repository and retains it according to easily definable retention policies.
Is there a definable Jewish identity in contemporary architecture?
While some scientists develop new tools to visualize for the first time the fuzzy essence of electrons, others are coercing these inherently quantum entities into clearly definable locations and behaviors that resemble those of tiny billiard balls.
The majority of African Americans came from a definable section of West Africa.
Finally, while Davies insists on "the principle that cunning-folk are definable by what they practiced," (p.
If the epileptogenic zone is definable, the surgical cure rate is 20%-30%, but "there is probably a higher percentage who have a decrease in seizures," he said.
Unlike Yoshio Taniguchi, who has embraced a neohistorical modernism for his renovation of the Museum of Modern Art, Piano, in recent commissions like the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas, has employed subtle natural lighting and simple materials to dramatic effect without falling into an easily definable stylistic box.
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