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Abstraction for Dummies

noun

pronunciation: æb'strækʃən

What does Abstraction really mean?

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Abstraction is a word that might sound complicated at first, but let me break it down for you in a simple way. Imagine you have a big jar filled with colorful candies of different shapes and sizes. These candies all look different, right? They have different colors, flavors, and textures. Now, if I were to ask you what is the common thing between these candies, what would you say?

Well, you might think that each candy is different and there is no common thing between them. But actually, if we look closer, we can find a common idea or concept that groups all these candies together. And that concept is sweetness. All these candies have one thing in common, which is the sweetness they bring when we eat them. In a way, we have abstracted or taken out this common idea from the specific candies.

Abstraction, in simple terms, means taking out the most important or common idea from a group of specific things. It's like finding the key takeaway or the main point that connects them all. Abstraction helps us to simplify things and understand them better.

Now, let's think about another example. You know there are many different animals in the world, right? If I say the word "animal" to you, what comes to your mind? Maybe a dog, a cat, or a bird? These are all specific types of animals. But what if I ask you to think about the common characteristics or qualities that all animals share? Can you guess a few?

Mmm...let's see. Animals breathe, they eat, and they can move. These are some common things that all animals do, no matter if they are big or small, live in the sky or in the water. A dog and a bird might look very different, but we can find this abstract idea of breathing, eating, and moving in both of them. So, in this case, the abstraction is the idea that connects all animals, regardless of the specific differences between them.

When we talk about abstraction, we are looking at the bigger picture, the general idea that encompasses many specific things. It's like zooming out from the individual details and focusing on what they all have in common. Abstraction helps us to organize our thoughts, simplify complex concepts, and understand things in a broader sense.

So, I hope now you have a clearer understanding of what "abstraction" means. It's about finding the common idea or concept that connects a group of specific things. Just like the sweetness that connects different candies or the breathing, eating, and moving that connects all animals. Abstraction is a tool that helps us simplify and understand the world around us.


Revised and Fact checked by Elizabeth Martin on 2023-11-06 02:23:27

Abstraction In a sentece

Learn how to use Abstraction inside a sentece

  • When you look at a painting of a flower, you can see the colors and shapes, but you can also imagine the smell and feel of the flower. That feeling you imagine is an abstraction.
  • When you watch a cartoon, you can see the characters moving and talking, but you know they are not real. They are just drawings or computer images, which are abstractions of real things.
  • When you listen to a song, you can hear the different instruments playing together, but you can also imagine the emotions and stories that the song is trying to express. Those emotions and stories are abstractions.
  • When you read a book, you can see the words on the pages, but you can also create images and scenes in your mind. Those images and scenes that you imagine are abstractions of the words you read.
  • When you count your toys, you can see each one and touch them, but when you say you have five toys, the number five is an abstraction. It represents the idea of having a certain amount without having to point at each individual toy.

Abstraction Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

Abstraction Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.

Abstraction Hyponyms

Words that are more specific than the original word.