function

n. [ L. functio, fr. fungi to perform, execute, akin to Skr. bhuj to enjoy, have the use of: cf. F. fonction. Cf. Defunct. ] 1. The act of executing or performing any duty, office, or calling; performance. “In the function of his public calling.” Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Physiol.) The appropriate action of any special organ or part of an animal or vegetable organism; as, the function of the heart or the limbs; the function of leaves, sap, roots, etc.; life is the sum of the functions of the various organs and parts of the body. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The natural or assigned action of any power or faculty, as of the soul, or of the intellect; the exertion of an energy of some determinate kind. [ 1913 Webster ]

As the mind opens, and its functions spread. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The course of action which peculiarly pertains to any public officer in church or state; the activity appropriate to any business or profession. [ 1913 Webster ]

Tradesmen . . . going about their functions. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The malady which made him incapable of performing his
regal functions. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Math.) A quantity so connected with another quantity, that if any alteration be made in the latter there will be a consequent alteration in the former. Each quantity is said to be a function of the other. Thus, the circumference of a circle is a function of the diameter. If x be a symbol to which different numerical values can be assigned, such expressions as x2, 3x, Log. x, and Sin. x, are all functions of x. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Eccl.) A religious ceremony, esp. one particularly impressive and elaborate.

Every solemn ‘function' performed with the requirements of the liturgy. Card. Wiseman. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

7. A public or social ceremony or gathering; a festivity or entertainment, esp. one somewhat formal.

This function, which is our chief social event. W. D. Howells. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

Algebraic function, a quantity whose connection with the variable is expressed by an equation that involves only the algebraic operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, raising to a given power, and extracting a given root; -- opposed to transcendental function. --
Arbitrary function. See under Arbitrary. --
Calculus of functions. See under Calculus. --
Carnot's function (Thermo-dynamics), a relation between the amount of heat given off by a source of heat, and the work which can be done by it. It is approximately equal to the mechanical equivalent of the thermal unit divided by the number expressing the temperature in degrees of the air thermometer, reckoned from its zero of expansion. --
Circular functions. See Inverse trigonometrical functions (below). -- Continuous function, a quantity that has no interruption in the continuity of its real values, as the variable changes between any specified limits. --
Discontinuous function. See under Discontinuous. --
Elliptic functions, a large and important class of functions, so called because one of the forms expresses the relation of the arc of an ellipse to the straight lines connected therewith. --
Explicit function, a quantity directly expressed in terms of the independently varying quantity; thus, in the equations y = 6x2, y = 10 -x3, the quantity y is an explicit function of x. --
Implicit function, a quantity whose relation to the variable is expressed indirectly by an equation; thus, y in the equation x2 + y2 = 100 is an implicit function of x. --
Inverse trigonometrical functions, or
Circular functions, the lengths of arcs relative to the sines, tangents, etc. Thus, AB is the arc whose sine is BD, and (if the length of BD is x) is written sin -1x, and so of the other lines. See Trigonometrical function (below). Other transcendental functions are the exponential functions, the elliptic functions, the gamma functions, the theta functions, etc. --
One-valued function, a quantity that has one, and only one, value for each value of the variable. --
Transcendental functions, a quantity whose connection with the variable cannot be expressed by algebraic operations; thus, y in the equation y = 10x is a transcendental function of x. See Algebraic function (above). --
Trigonometrical function, a quantity whose relation to the variable is the same as that of a certain straight line drawn in a circle whose radius is unity, to the length of a corresponding are of the circle. Let AB be an arc in a circle, whose radius OA is unity let AC be a quadrant, and let OC, DB, and AF be drawnpependicular to OA, and EB and CG parallel to OA, and let OB be produced to G and F. E Then BD is the sine of the arc AB; OD or EB is the cosine, AF is the tangent, CG is the cotangent, OF is the secant OG is the cosecant, AD is the versed sine, and CE is the coversed sine of the are AB. If the length of AB be represented by x (OA being unity) then the lengths of Functions. these lines (OA being unity) are the trigonometrical functions of x, and are written sin x, cos x, tan x (or tang x), cot x, sec x, cosec x, versin x, coversin x. These quantities are also considered as functions of the angle BOA.

a. 1. Pertaining to, or connected with, a function or duty; official. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Pathology, Physiol.) Pertaining to the function of an organ or part, or to the functions in general; involving or affecting function rather than physiology; as, functional deafness; a functional disease. See functional disease, below. [ wns=2 ] [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Designed for or capable of a particular function or use; as, a style of writing in which every word is functional; functional architecture. [ wns=1 ] [ WordNet 1.6 ]

4. Fit or ready for use or service; useable; in working order; as, the toaster was still functional even after being dropped; the lawnmower is a bit rusty but still functional. Antonym of out of order and nonfunctional. [ wns=4 & 6 ]
Syn. -- usable, useable, in working order(predicate), operable, operational, running(prenominal), operative. [ WordNet 1.6 ]

5. Designed to emphasize practical utility rather than artistic or aesthetic purposes; as, functional education selects knowledge that is concrete and usable rather than abstract and theoretical; functional architecture; an amateurish device, crude but functional. [ WordNet 1.6 ]

Functional disease (Med.), a disease of which the symptoms cannot be referred to any appreciable lesion or change of structure; the derangement of an organ arising from a cause, often unknown, external to itself opposed to organic disease, in which the organ itself is affected. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. a psychology based on the assumption that all mental process are useful to an organism in adapting to the environment. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. any doctrine that stresses utility or purpose. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. an adherent of functionalism. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. To assign to some function or office. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a functional manner; as regards normal or appropriate activity. [ 1913 Webster ]

The organ is said to be functionally disordered. Lawrence. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Functionaries [ Cf. F. fonctionnaire. ] One charged with the performance of a function or office; as, a public functionary; secular functionaries. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } v. i. To execute or perform a function; to transact one's regular or appointed business. [ 1913 Webster ]