ABSENCE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does absence mean? 

• ABSENCE (noun)
  The noun ABSENCE has 4 senses:

1. the state of being absent

2. failure to be present

3. the time interval during which something or somebody is away

4. the occurrence of an abrupt, transient loss or impairment of consciousness (which is not subsequently remembered), sometimes with light twitching, fluttering eyelids, etc.; common in petit mal epilepsy

  Familiarity information: ABSENCE used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ABSENCE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The state of being absent

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Context example:

he was surprised by the absence of any explanation

Hypernyms ("absence" is a kind of...):

deficiency; lack; want (the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "absence"):

nonoccurrence (absence by virtue of not occurring)

awayness (the state of being elsewhere than in particular place)

Antonym:

presence (the state of being present; current existence)

Derivation:

absent (not being in a specified place)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Failure to be present

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("absence" is a kind of...):

nonattendance (the failure to attend)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "absence"):

cut (an unexcused absence from class)

default (loss due to not showing up)

absenteeism (habitual absence from work)

Antonym:

presence (the act of being present)

Derivation:

absent (go away or leave)

absent (not being in a specified place)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The time interval during which something or somebody is away

Classified under:

Nouns denoting time and temporal relations

Context example:

he visited during my absence

Hypernyms ("absence" is a kind of...):

interval; time interval (a definite length of time marked off by two instants)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The occurrence of an abrupt, transient loss or impairment of consciousness (which is not subsequently remembered), sometimes with light twitching, fluttering eyelids, etc.; common in petit mal epilepsy

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

absence; absence seizure

Hypernyms ("absence" is a kind of...):

ictus; raptus; seizure (a sudden occurrence (or recurrence) of a disease)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "absence"):

complex absence (an absence seizure accompanied by other abnormalities (atonia or automatisms or vasomotor changes))

pure absence; simple absence (an absence seizure without other complications; followed by 3-per-sec brainwave spikes)

subclinical absence (a transient impairment of cortical function demonstrable only by 3-per-second brainwave spikes)

Holonyms ("absence" is a part of...):

epilepsia minor; petit mal; petit mal epilepsy (epilepsy characterized by paroxysmal attacks of brief clouding of consciousness (and possibly other abnormalities))

 Context examples 

The strain was new to me, and yet it was so old that it filled my heart brim-full; like a friend come back from a long absence.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

A blood coagulation disorder characterized by the complete absence of fibrinogen in the blood, resulting in bleeding.

(Afibrinogenemia, NCI Thesaurus)

Absence of pronounced fibrovascular stroma, as well as more "plump" shape of epithelial cells, may be the reason for different appearance of mouse adenomas, as compared to their human counterparts.

(Adenoma of the Mouse Pulmonary System, NCI Thesaurus/MMHCC)

"But he is not all wolf," interposed Beth, standing for her brother in his absence.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

A congenital disorder characterized by partial or complete absence of melanin pigment in the eyes, hair and skin.

(Albinism, NCI Thesaurus)

Time and absence had done its work on both the young people.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

A congenital disorder characterized by the absence of myenteric ganglion cells in the distal colon.

(Aganglionic megacolon, NCI Thesaurus)

The evening conversation, when they were all assembled, had lost much of its animation, and almost all its sense by the absence of Jane and Elizabeth.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Progressive and life-threatening pulmonary distress in the absence of an underlying pulmonary condition, usually following major trauma or surgery.

(Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, NCI Thesaurus)

A disorder characterized by progressive and life-threatening pulmonary distress in the absence of an underlying pulmonary condition, usually following major trauma or surgery.

(Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, NCI Thesaurus/CTCAE)