FUNCTIONAL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does functional mean? 

• FUNCTIONAL (adjective)
  The adjective FUNCTIONAL has 6 senses:

1. designed for or capable of a particular function or use

2. involving or affecting function rather than physiology

3. relating to or based on function especially as opposed to structure

4. fit or ready for use or service

5. designed for or adapted to a function or use

6. (of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing

  Familiarity information: FUNCTIONAL used as an adjective is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FUNCTIONAL (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Designed for or capable of a particular function or use

Context example:

functional architecture

Similar:

structural (affecting or involved in structure or construction)

useful; utilitarian (having a useful function)

Also:

serviceable (ready for service or able to give long service)

Attribute:

function; purpose; role; use (what something is used for)

Antonym:

nonfunctional (not having or performing a function)

Derivation:

functionality (capable of serving a purpose well)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Involving or affecting function rather than physiology

Context example:

functional deafness

Domain category:

pathology (the branch of medical science that studies the causes and nature and effects of diseases)

Antonym:

organic (involving or affecting physiology or bodily organs)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Relating to or based on function especially as opposed to structure

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Context example:

delegates elected on a functional rather than a geographical basis

Pertainym:

function (what something is used for)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Fit or ready for use or service

Synonyms:

functional; operable; operational; usable; useable

Context example:

the dishwasher is now in working order

Similar:

serviceable (ready for service or able to give long service)

Derivation:

functionality (capable of serving a purpose well)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Designed for or adapted to a function or use

Context example:

functional architecture

Similar:

practical (concerned with actual use or practice)

Derivation:

functionality (capable of serving a purpose well)

Sense 6

Meaning:

(of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing

Synonyms:

functional; operative; running; working

Context example:

a functional set of brakes

Similar:

functioning (performing or able to perform its regular function)

Derivation:

functionality (capable of serving a purpose well)

 Context examples 

Issue associated with linking of device and/or device components whereby their functional units set up to provide means for a transfer of fluid, gas, or data is prevented or impeded.

(Blocked Connection Medical Device Problem, Food and Drug Administration)

A bi-functional alkylating agent, with potential antineoplastic activity.

(Bi-functional Alkylating Agent VAL-083, NCI Thesaurus)

A functional area or structure in a cell that is bounded by a lipid-containing membrane.

(Membranous Cytoplasmic Organelle, NCI Thesaurus)

Using mathematical methods to simulate processes to predict the interaction of proteins at the functional level.

(Modeling of Functional Interactions, NCI Thesaurus)

This gene encodes a non-functional member of the peptidase S1 family.

(MST1L Gene, NCI Thesaurus)

The type of ubiquitin modification determines the functional consequences for the modified protein.

(Monoubiquitination, NCI Thesaurus)

The questionnaire contains 3 categories of 24 items; functional impairment, magnitude of task and magnitude of effort.

(Baseline Dyspnea Index Questionnaire, NCI Thesaurus)

A clinically derived index of the severity of patient dyspnea based on functional impairment, magnitude of tasks that result in dyspnea, and the degree of effort that produces dyspnea.

(Baseline Dyspnea Index, NCI Thesaurus)

This causes biochemical and functional changes in the activated cell.

(Activate, NCI Dictionary)

A platelet characterized by a structural or functional abnormality.

(Abnormal Platelet, NCI Thesaurus)