EXAMPLE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does example mean? 

• EXAMPLE (noun)
  The noun EXAMPLE has 6 senses:

1. an item of information that is typical of a class or group

2. a representative form or pattern

3. something to be imitated

4. punishment intended as a warning to others

5. an occurrence of something

6. a task performed or problem solved in order to develop skill or understanding

  Familiarity information: EXAMPLE used as a noun is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• EXAMPLE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An item of information that is typical of a class or group

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

example; illustration; instance; representative

Context example:

there is an example on page 10

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

information (knowledge acquired through study or experience or instruction)

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

exception (an instance that does not conform to a rule or generalization)

case in point; precedent (an example that is used to justify similar occurrences at a later time)

quintessence (the most typical example or representative of a type)

sample (a small part of something intended as representative of the whole)

specimen (an example regarded as typical of its class)

apology; excuse (a poor example)

Derivation:

exemplary (being or serving as an illustration of a type)

exemplify (clarify by giving an example of)

exemplify (be characteristic of)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A representative form or pattern

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

example; model

Context example:

I profited from his example

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

internal representation; mental representation; representation (a presentation to the mind in the form of an idea or image)

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

loadstar; lodestar (something that serves as a model or guide)

prefiguration (an example that prefigures or foreshadows what is to come)

guide; template; templet (a model or standard for making comparisons)

archetype; original; pilot (something that serves as a model or a basis for making copies)

microcosm (a miniature model of something)

holotype; type specimen (the original specimen from which the description of a new species is made)

epitome; image; paradigm; prototype (a standard or typical example)

Derivation:

exemplify (clarify by giving an example of)

exemplify (be characteristic of)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Something to be imitated

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

example; exemplar; good example; model

Context example:

he is the very model of a modern major general

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

ideal (the idea of something that is perfect; something that one hopes to attain)

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

beaut; beauty (an outstanding example of its kind)

pacemaker; pacesetter (a leading instance in its field)

pattern (a model considered worthy of imitation)

prodigy (an impressive or wonderful example of a particular quality)

Derivation:

exemplary (worthy of imitation)

exemplify (clarify by giving an example of)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Punishment intended as a warning to others

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

deterrent example; example; lesson; object lesson

Context example:

they decided to make an example of him

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

admonition; monition; warning; word of advice (cautionary advice about something imminent (especially imminent danger or other unpleasantness))

Derivation:

exemplary (serving to warn)

Sense 5

Meaning:

An occurrence of something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

case; example; instance

Context example:

but there is always the famous example of the Smiths

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

happening; natural event; occurrence; occurrent (an event that happens)

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

humiliation; mortification (an instance in which you are caused to lose your prestige or self-respect)

bit; piece (an instance of some kind)

clip; time (an instance or single occasion for some event)

Derivation:

exemplify (clarify by giving an example of)

Sense 6

Meaning:

A task performed or problem solved in order to develop skill or understanding

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

example; exercise

Context example:

you must work the examples at the end of each chapter in the textbook

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

lesson (a task assigned for individual study)

 Context examples 

This is the only known example of a cryovolcano that potentially formed from a salty mud mix, and that formed in the geologically recent past.

(Ceres' Geological Activity, Ice Revealed in New Research, NASA)

Iceland specialises in this type of eruption – the last example occurred in 2015, and it affected air quality 1400 kilometres away in Ireland.

(Volcanic eruption influenced Iceland’s conversion to Christianity, University of Cambridge)

Walrus-hunting and the ivory trade were likely the cause of the extinction, one of the earliest examples of commercially driven overexploitation of marine resources.

(Extinction of Icelandic walrus coincides with Norse settlement, National Science Foundation)

In biology, there are many examples where light induces movement or change—think of flowers and leaves turning toward sunlight.

(New Materials Developed by Scientists Able to Move in Response to Light, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

This suggests that you might attend quite a beautiful party within four days of November 12—it could be a friend’s wedding, engagement party, or a beautiful industry event as a few examples.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

The combination of techniques has allowed the investigators to gain insights into processes that have a wide range of implications, for example, determining the subsurface water storage capacity in a region.

(Study explores how rock expands near soil surface in Sierra Nevada, National Science Foundation)

The scent of a rose, for example, is made up of a mix of 275 components, with only a few contributing to the smell we perceive.

(Humans Can Identify More Than 1 Trillion Smells, NIH, US)

An example of an adenosarcoma is Wilms tumor.

(Adenosarcoma, NCI Dictionary)

Representative examples of primary neoplasms include astrocytoma, meningioma, pituitary adenoma, and neurilemoma.

(Adult Central Nervous System Neoplasm, NCI Thesaurus)

A suspension of solid or liquid particles in a gas, for example sulfate molecules (SO[SUB]4[/SUB][SUP]-[/SUP]) found in the earth atmosphere.

(Aerosols, NOAA Paleoclimate Glossary)