A technical definition is a definition in technical communication describing or explaining technical terminology. Technical definitions are used to introduce the vocabulary which makes communication in a particular field succinct and unambiguous. (For example, the iliac crest from medical terminology is the top ridge of the hip bone. (See ilium.))
Contents
Types of technical definitions
There are three main types of technical definitions.
- Parenthetical definitions
- Sentence definitions
- Extended definitions
Parenthetical definitions
Parenthetical definition are used to introduce words by using a synonym or short description immediately after the word. The synonym or description usually delimited by parenthesis (hence the definition) or commas.
Examples
Aniline, a benzene ring with an amine group, is a versatile chemical used in many organic syntheses.
The genus Helogale (dwarf mongooses) contains two species.
Sentence definitions
These definitions generally appear in three different places: within the text, in margin notes, or in a glossary. Regardless of position in the document, most sentence definitions follow the basic form of term, category, and distinguishing features.
Examples
A major scale is a diatonic scale which has the semitone interval pattern 2-2-1-2-2-2-1.
In mathematics, an abelian group is a group which is commutative.
Extended definitions
When a term needs to be explained in great detail and precision, an extended definition is used. They can range in size from a few sentences to many pages. Shorter ones are usually found in the text, and lengthy definitions are placed in a glossary. Relatively complex concepts in mathematics require extended definitions in which mathematical objects are declared (e.g., let x be a real number...) and then restricted by conditions (often signaled by the phrase such that). These conditions often employ the universal and/or existential quantifiers (for all (
Note: In mathematical definitions, convention dictates the use of the word if between the term to be defined and the definition; however, definitions should be interpreted as though if and only if were used in place of if.
Examples
Definition of the limit of a single variable function:
Let
Encyclopedias are full of extended definitions. Most of the pages on Wikipedia are extended definitions, and you are reading one right now.