abstract
Removed from reality
The core meaning of abstract is of something separate from, but closely related to, an underlying thing.
In most uses the abstract thing is not tangible, but is rather an idea.
An idea criticized as being too abstract means it is too far removed from reality or practicality.
When you abstract, you take away or pull out the essential elements or ideas of something.
An abstract of an article or paper is a short summary.
Condensed version of content
- précisConcise summary of text
- summaryCondensed account of essentials
- overviewBroad general summary
- outlineSummary of key elements
digest · brief · condensation · abridgment · epitome · recap · rundown · extract
Take something away
- isolateSeparate from others
- separateTo set apart
- distillPurify through vaporization
- deriveObtain from a source
pull out · draw out · take out · detach · dissociate · decouple · segregate · winnow
Delicate beyond earthly measure
- immaterialLacking physical form; unimportant
- nonphysicalNot of matter
- incorporealNot made of matter
- impalpableUnable to be touched
insubstantial · intangible · disembodied · formless · shapeless · bodiless · unembodied · nonmaterial
Not depicting reality
- nonobjectiveLacking depicted subject matter
- nonfigurativeNot depicting reality
- expressionistOne who conveys through art
- modernistAdvocate of experimental forms
minimalist · geometric · Kandinsky · Pollock · Rothko · color field · action painting · cubist
Assumed but unproven
- speculativeBased on conjecture
- conjecturalBased on incomplete evidence
- academicRelating to education or theory
- intellectualConcerning thought and reason
conceptual · notional · ideational · nonempirical · armchair · ivory tower · philosophical · pure
Mental formation
- notionImprecise mental impression
- essenceFundamental nature of something
- principleFundamental truth or standard
- theoryExplanatory set of principles
generalization · conceptualization · paradigm · construct · ideation · formulation · framework · model
synopsis
Condensed version of content
outline · digest · brief · condensation · abridgment · epitome · recap · rundown · extract · summation
remove
Take something away
derive · pull out · draw out · take out · detach · dissociate · decouple · segregate · winnow · sift
ethereal
Delicate beyond earthly measure
- immaterialLacking physical form; unimportant
- nonphysicalNot of matter
- incorporealNot made of matter
impalpable · insubstantial · intangible · disembodied · formless · shapeless · bodiless · unembodied · nonmaterial · imperceptible
nonrepresentational
Not depicting reality
- nonobjectiveLacking depicted subject matter
- nonfigurativeNot depicting reality
- expressionistOne who conveys through art
modernist · minimalist · geometric · Kandinsky · Pollock · Rothko · color field · action painting · cubist · constructivist
hypothetical
Assumed but unproven
- speculativeBased on conjecture
- conjecturalBased on incomplete evidence
- academicRelating to education or theory
intellectual · conceptual · notional · ideational · nonempirical · armchair · ivory tower · philosophical · pure · nonpractical
idea
Mental formation
- notionImprecise mental impression
- essenceFundamental nature of something
- principleFundamental truth or standard
theory · generalization · conceptualization · paradigm · construct · ideation · formulation · framework · model · archetype
ambiguous
Having multiple interpretations
indistinct · indefinite · imprecise · recondite · esoteric · opaque · arcane · cryptic · elusive · hard to grasp
- academiaprofessors, universities, graduation cap, biology department, professor
- art stylesimpressionism, surrealism, cubism, realism, pop art
- written worksessay, novel, anthologies, history books, letter
- art termspainting, sculpture, drawing, portrait, landscape
- depiction stylesrealistic, stylized, representational, figurative, impressionistic
- journal publishingresearch article, editor in chief, review article, managing editor, case study
abstractconcrete
Solid building mixture
specific · particular · practical · applied · definite
abstractrepresentational
Depicting recognizable subjects
figurative · realistic · naturalistic · lifelike · photorealistic
- abstract reasoningThought using concepts alone
- abstract designPattern without recognizable imagery
- abstract artVisual work avoiding depiction
- abstract paintingArt avoiding realistic imagery
- abstract thinkingCognition beyond physical reality
- in the abstractAs idea, not reality
abstraction, abstract of title, abstracted, abstracts, abstracting, abstractly, abstractness, abstractedly, abstractions