FUNCTIONAL • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Functional

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/fˈəŋkʃənəl/ Listen

adjective

Functional adj.

1.

Pertaining to, or connected with, a function or duty; official.

2.

(Pathology, Physiol.) Pertaining to the function of an organ or part, or to the functions in general; involving or affecting function rather than physiology; as, functional deafness; a functional disease. See functional disease, below. (wns=2)

3.

Designed for or capable of a particular function or use; as, a style of writing in which every word is functional; functional architecture. (wns=1)

4.

Fit or ready for use or service; useable; in working order; as, the toaster was still functional even after being dropped; the lawnmower is a bit rusty but still functional. Antonym of out of order and nonfunctional. (wns=4 & 6)

Synonyms: usable, useable, in working order(predicate), operable, operational, running(prenominal), operative.

5.

Designed to emphasize practical utility rather than artistic or aesthetic purposes; as, functional education selects knowledge that is concrete and usable rather than abstract and theoretical; functional architecture; an amateurish device, crude but functional.

Functional disease (Med.), a disease of which the symptoms cannot be referred to any appreciable lesion or change of structure; the derangement of an organ arising from a cause, often unknown, external to itself opposed to organic disease, in which the organ itself is affected.

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Etymology of 'Functional'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Functional" Quotes from Famous Books

... fluctuating. I am, therefore, not prepared to accept this third causative factor without question. Nevertheless I am perfectly willing to admit that other factors besides cerebral hyperaemia and anaemia may produce the functional variety of headache. There would seem to be ample ground for ascribing great causative importance to excessive irritation of the brain plasma itself. Hence those forms of headache which while, being unaccompanied by any especial circulatory derangements, succeed, oftentimes, with relentless ...

— Scientific American Supplement, No. 415, December 15, 1883 • Various

... It was probably completed by 1881, at which time the board of supervisors was appropriating funds for new furnishings. The architecture of this newest office presented a mixture of three styles. In overall appearance, its square shape, hipped roof and functional design were reminiscent of the eighteenth century buildings of James Wren. The late nineteenth century's preference for exterior decoration was illustrated by a dentiled cornice, a belt of corbelling three courses wide in the brickwork below the cornice, and brick pilasters ...

— The Fairfax County Courthouse • Ross D. Netherton

... posterior division of the insect body: consists normally of nine or ten apparent segments, but actual number is a mooted question: bears no functional legs in the ...

— Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology • John. B. Smith

... Coroner with functional gravity, 'for three inquests; three?—no, pardon me, for four inquests, and for at least one charge of ...

— The Dictator • Justin McCarthy

... completely modern, functional system of government at the national level, we in Washington will at last be able to provide government that ...

— State of the Union Addresses of Richard Nixon • Richard Nixon

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