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# defining

adjective (defining); also the -ing form of the verb define (define, defines, defined, defining)

«defining» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Most important in showing what someone or something is really like: «a defining moment». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defining/#m1)
2. (verb) Giving the exact meaning of a word, or setting out the limits of something. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defining/#m2)
3. (grammar) A «defining relative clause» gives information that tells you exactly which person or thing is meant. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defining/#m3)

### In the lessons

In stories a «defining moment» is the event that changes a character for ever. In English lessons, «defining» clauses use «who», «which» or «that» without commas: «The girl who won the race is my sister.» In maths and science, «defining» a word gives its exact meaning, such as defining a prime number. Phrases: «a defining moment», «a defining feature», «defining characteristic».

### Examples

- Winning the final was a defining moment for the team. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defining/#x1)
- A defining feature of a triangle is that it has three sides. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defining/#x2)
- We are defining the new words in our vocabulary books. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defining/#x3)
- Kindness is her defining quality. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defining/#x4)
- Defining what a «fair» game means helped end the argument. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defining/#x5)
- In the sentence «The book that I read was long», «that I read» is a defining clause. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defining/#x6)

### Note

The verb is «define»; the noun is «definition». «Definitive» is a different word meaning final or best. Defining clauses take no commas; non-defining ones need commas.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «defining» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defining/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«defining» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/defining.html) on Mova free.