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# summary

noun (a summary, summaries); adjective (summary — formal)

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

## Everyday

1. A summary is a short version of something longer, giving only the main points. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/summary/#m1)
2. (formal, adjective) Summary means done quickly, without the usual steps: «summary justice». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/summary/#m2)
3. «In summary» means «to put it briefly». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/summary/#m3)

### In the lessons

In English lessons pupils write a summary of a story or a chapter. In science a summary of results ends a report. In maths a «summary table» shows totals. In everyday life news and websites give summaries. Phrases: «in summary», «a brief summary», «write a summary».

### Examples

- Write a summary of the story in five sentences. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/summary/#x1)
- The news gave a short summary of the match. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/summary/#x2)
- In summary, plants need light, water and air. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/summary/#x3)
- The teacher read our summaries aloud. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/summary/#x4)
- The summary at the end of the chapter helps with revision. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/summary/#x5)
- A summary table shows the total sales for each day. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/summary/#x6)
- The book's back cover has a summary of the plot. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/summary/#x7)

### Note

Plural: summaries. Verb: summarise (UK) or summarize (US). A summary should be shorter and in your own words; copying sentences is not a summary. Do not confuse with «summery» (like summer). Formal «summary dismissal» means being sacked at once.

## On Mova

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