ABSOLUTE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does absolute mean? 

• ABSOLUTE (noun)
  The noun ABSOLUTE has 1 sense:

1. something that is conceived or that exists independently and not in relation to other things; something that does not depend on anything else and is beyond human control; something that is not relative

  Familiarity information: ABSOLUTE used as a noun is very rare.

• ABSOLUTE (adjective)
  The adjective ABSOLUTE has 5 senses:

1. perfect or complete or pure

2. complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers

3. not limited by law

4. expressing finality with no implication of possible change

5. not capable of being violated or infringed

  Familiarity information: ABSOLUTE used as an adjective is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ABSOLUTE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Something that is conceived or that exists independently and not in relation to other things; something that does not depend on anything else and is beyond human control; something that is not relative

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Context example:

no mortal being can influence the absolute

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

abstract; abstraction (a concept or idea not associated with any specific instance)

Derivation:

absolute (perfect or complete or pure)

absolute (expressing finality with no implication of possible change)

• ABSOLUTE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Perfect or complete or pure

Context example:

absolute alcohol

Similar:

direct (lacking compromising or mitigating elements; exact)

implicit; unquestioning (being without doubt or reserve)

infinite (total and all-embracing)

living ((informal) absolute)

Antonym:

relative (estimated by comparison; not absolute or complete)

Derivation:

absolute (something that is conceived or that exists independently and not in relation to other things; something that does not depend on anything else and is beyond human control; something that is not relative)

absoluteness (the quality of being absolute)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers

Synonyms:

absolute; downright; out-and-out; rank; right-down; sheer

Context example:

sheer stupidity

Similar:

complete (having every necessary or normal part or component or step)

Derivation:

absoluteness (the quality of being absolute)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Not limited by law

Context example:

an absolute monarch

Similar:

arbitrary (based on or subject to individual discretion or preference or sometimes impulse or caprice)

Derivation:

absoluteness (the quality of being absolute)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Expressing finality with no implication of possible change

Context example:

an absolute guarantee to respect the nation's authority

Similar:

unambiguous; unequivocal; univocal (admitting of no doubt or misunderstanding; having only one meaning or interpretation and leading to only one conclusion)

Derivation:

absolute (something that is conceived or that exists independently and not in relation to other things; something that does not depend on anything else and is beyond human control; something that is not relative)

absoluteness (the quality of being absolute)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Not capable of being violated or infringed

Synonyms:

absolute; infrangible; inviolable

Context example:

infrangible human rights

Similar:

inalienable; unalienable (incapable of being repudiated or transferred to another)

Derivation:

absoluteness (the quality of being absolute)

 Context examples 

I will stake it all on the fact that your story is an absolute fabrication.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The difficulty is to detach the framework of fact—of absolute undeniable fact—from the embellishments of theorists and reporters.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

There are indications that an immature granulocyte count is a better measure of infection and sepsis than a total white blood cell count and comparable to absolute neutrophil count.

(Immature Granulocyte, NCI Thesaurus)

An absolute neutrophil count (ANC) of 500 or more (500 or more neutrophils in a cubic millimeter of blood) for 3 days in a row is a sign of engraftment.

(Neutrophil Engraftment, NCI Thesaurus)

An object representing a structure that is capable of measuring the absolute or relative amount of a given compound.

(Expression Measurement Object, NCI Thesaurus)

A relationship between a DefinedSubstanceAdministration and a DefinedObservation that identifies a factor used in a relative dose expression to calculate an absolute dose.

(Defined Expression Variable Relationship, NCI Thesaurus/BRIDG)

The lack of hair is rarely absolute and is usually accompanied by incompletely grown, lanugo-like hair.

(Congenital Alopecia, NCI Thesaurus)

As the last rays of daylight dwindled and disappeared, absolute blackness settled down on Treasure Island.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

This person is alone and cannot be approached by letter without a breach of that absolute secrecy which is desired.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)