This document defines and provides examples of different types of definitions. It discusses the concept of definition, the typical parts of a definition including the term, group/class, and characteristic/function. It then describes three main types of definitions - real/formal definitions where the term is presented first followed by the class and characteristic; nominal/naming definitions where the class and characteristic are presented first followed by the term; and informal definitions which avoid ambiguity. The document provides examples of each type of definition and notes that markers like "is" can help identify definitions in a text.

1. Unit II: Definition and
Exemplification
Topic: Definition

2. Contents
 Concept of Definition
 Parts of a Definition
 Types of Definition
 Markers

3. What is a definition?

5. For example:
An engineer is a professional
who applies scientific
knowledge combined with
his own creativity to develop
solutions to society´s needs.

6. Parts of a Definition

10. The characteristic or
function is the special
feature that makes the
term defined different
from other terms of the
same group.

11. Now, it’s time to continue to learn about three
types of definitions.

12. Real
or
Formal
Types
of
Definitions

13. Real or Formal Definition

14. In a formal or real definition, the term being defined is
presented first, then the class and finally the characteristic.
So the organization pattern goes like this:

15. Example
Water is a chemical compound consisting of two
hydrogen atoms and one oxygen.

16. Let´s divide the previous definition into its
parts.
Term: water
Group: chemical compound
Characteristic: consisting on two hydrogen
atoms and one oxygen

17. Let’s check the order of the elements of this real
definition.
A cellphone is a mobile electronic device which primary
function was to make phone calls, although now it can do
other functions such as sending text message, playing music
and surfing the Internet.

18. As you could notice, the organization of the
previous formal definition has the following
pattern:
1.Term: cellphone
2. Class/Group: mobile electronic device
3. Characteristic/Function: make phone
calls

19. Naming or Nominal Definition
What is a nominal
definition?

20. The term is presented at the end. First the class, then
the characteristics and finally the term.

21. For example:
An electronic
device that
manipulates
information or
data is known as
computer.

22. Let´s divide the previous definition into its
parts.
 Group: electronic device
 Characteristic: manipulates information or data
 Term : computer
 Let’s check another example.

23. The operating system that runs on Macintosh
computers is called OSX, and it has several versions.
The most recent version of OSX is named El Capitan.

24. In the previous sentences, there are two
nominal definitions.
In the first one you find the term OSX at the end
of the statement.
1.Class: operating system
2.Characteristic: runs on Macintosh computers
3.Term: OSX
In the second one you find the term El Capitan.
1.Class: OSX
2.Characteristic: most recent version (of OSX)
3.Term: El Capitan

25. Informal Definition

27. Examples of Informal Definition
 Matter is anything that has mass (the amount of material in an object)
and takes up space. It is found in three chemical forms: elements (the
distinctive building blocks of matter that make up every material
substance), compounds (two or more different elements help
together in fixed proportions by attractive forces called chemical
bounds) and mixtures (combinations of elements, compound or
both).

28. In the previous paragraph, you could have noticed that there are
three short explanations or informal definitions of three different
terms:
mass: (two or more different elements help together in fixed
proportions by attractive forces called chemical bounds)
element: (the amount of material in an object)
compounds (two or more different elements help together in fixed
proportions by attractive forces called chemical bounds)
mixture: (combinations of elements, compound or both)
This is just with the intention of avoiding ambiguity. So that the reader focus on the
specific topic which is being explained.

29. Markers
Now that you already know the types and parts of a
definition, let´s look at some common markers used
to identify or write a definition.
But… what is a marker?

30. Markers are special words or
phrases that can help you to
identify a rhetorical function in a
text. Each rhetorical function has
its own markers.

31. Markers

32. In Summary
So, let’s summarize what you have learned up to now about definitions.
First, a definition is the explanation of a term. Also, a definition is composed
by three main parts.
 Term
 Group/Class
 Characteristic/Function
Second, we have three types of definitions in technical English.
 Real/Formal
 Nominal/Naming
 Informal
Third, there are some special words that might help us identify a definition.
 Markers