1. category(n = noun.group) class, family - a collection of things sharing a common attribute; "there are two classes of detergents"
is a kind of accumulation, aggregation, assemblage, collection
has particulars: grammatical category, syntactic category, paradigm, substitution class, brass family, violin family, woodwind family, stamp, sex, declension, conjugation, denomination, histocompatibility complex
Derived forms adjective categorial1, adjective categoric1, adjective categorical1, verb categorize1
2. category(n = noun.cognition) - a general concept that marks divisions or coordinations in a conceptual scheme;
is a kind of concept, conception, construct
has particulars: form, kind, sort, variety, pigeonhole, rubric, way
Derived forms adjective categorial1, adjective categorical1, verb categorize1
1. One of the highest classes to which the objects of knowledge or thought can be reduced, and by which they can be arranged in a system; an ultimate or undecomposable conception; a predicament. [1913 Webster]
"The categories or predicaments -- the former a Greek word, the latter its literal translation in the Latin language -- were intended by Aristotle and his followers as an enumeration of all things capable of being named; an enumeration by the summa genera i.e., the most extensive classes into which things could be distributed." [1913 Webster]
2. Class; also, state, condition, or predicament; as, we are both in the same category. [1913 Webster]
"There is in modern literature a whole class of writers standing within the same category." [1913 Webster]
category, n. (pl. -ies)
1 a class or division.
2 Philos. a one of a possibly exhaustive set of classes among which all things might be distributed. b one of the a priori conceptions applied by the mind to sense-impressions. c any relatively fundamental philosophical concept.
Derivative:
categorial adj.
Etymology:
F cat{eacute}gorie or LL categoria f. Gk kategoria statement f. kategoros accuser
N state, condition, category, estate, lot, ease, trim, mood, pickle, plight, temper, aspect, dilemma, pass, predicament, constitution, habitude, diathesis, frame, fabric, stamp, set, fit, mold, mould, mode, modality, schesis, form, tone, tenor, turn, trim, guise, fashion, light, complexion, style, character, conditional, modal, formal, structural, organic, conditionally, as the matter stands, as things are, such being the case.
N quantity, magnitude, size, amplitude, magnitude, mass, amount, sum, quantum, measure, substance, strength, force, mathematics, mathesis, category, general conception, universal predicament, armful, handful, mouthful, spoonful, capful, stock, batch, lot, dose, yaffle, quantitative, some, any, aught, more or less, a few, to the tune of, all of, a full, the sum of, fully, exactly, precisely.
N class, division, category, categorema, head, order, section, department, subdepartment, province, domain, kind, sort, genus, species, variety, family, order, kingdom, race, tribe, caste, sept, clan, breed, type, subtype, kit, sect, set, subset, assortment, feather, kidney, suit, range, gender, sex, kin, manner, description, denomination, designation, rubric, character, stamp predicament, indication, particularization, selection, specification, similarity.
grammatical category, syntactic category, taxonomic category