define by means of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "define by means of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when explaining or clarifying a term or concept through specific methods or examples. Example: "To understand the term 'ecosystem,' we can define it by means of its components, such as producers, consumers, and decomposers."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

For (varphicolon Xmultimap Y), we can define by means of the small and large counter-images of (Bsubset Y), i.e. varphi^{-1}(B):=bigl{ xin Xmidvarphi(x)subset Bbigr} quadmbox{and}quad varphi^{-1}_(B):=bigl{ xin Xmidvarphi(x cap Bne emptysetbigr}, (weakly) measurable multivalued maps as follows.

Fixed Point Theory and Applications

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Sometimes functions are most conveniently defined by means of differential equations.

Britannica

* All classes defined by means of defstruct are instances of the class structure-class.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Trigonometric functions of a real variable x are defined by means of the trigonometric functions of an angle.

Britannica

The design will be defined by means of a web services by using BPEL4WS.

Electronic Notes in Theoretical Computer Science

The majority of well-known ADLs are defined by means of components and connectors.

Information and Software Technology

Stator rotor interactions are defined by means of mixing plane model of multiple rotating reference frames.

Computers & Fluids

Aggregation is defined by means of combinatorial equations of the component states.

Reliability Engineering & System Safety

Finally, the highway alignment is defined by means of a parametric cubic smoothing spline.

Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies

They are defined by means of a parabolic comparison principle with respect to solutions.

Journal of Functional Analysis

Firstly, the deformation gradient tensor has been freshly defined by means of the matrix exponential function.

International Journal of Solids and Structures

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "define by means of", ensure that the method or tool being used for definition is clearly stated to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "define by means of" in simple contexts where "define using" or "define through" would be clearer and more concise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "define by means of" functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces the method or instrument used to establish a definition. It indicates how something is being defined, providing context and clarity to the definition itself, as demonstrated by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

65%

Encyclopedias

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

News & Media

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "define by means of" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that specifies the method or process by which something is defined. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It is particularly common in scientific and academic contexts where precise definitions are crucial. While effective, remember to use it judiciously, opting for simpler alternatives like "define using" when appropriate. The key is to ensure clarity and explicitness in how you are establishing a definition, making sure your audience understands the basis upon which it is constructed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

define using

Replaces the prepositional phrase "by means of" with the simpler preposition "using".

define via

Substitutes "by means of" with "via", indicating a channel or method.

define through

Uses "through" instead of "by means of" to indicate the process or method.

establish by

Employs "establish" in place of "define", focusing on setting something firmly using a method.

determine by

Similar to 'establish by', but emphasizes the process of finding out or deciding something using a method.

specify by

Focuses on detailing or stating something clearly using a particular approach.

delineate with

Uses "delineate" to mean outlining or describing something with the help of something else.

characterize by

Highlights the act of describing the qualities of something through a particular method.

express through

Indicates the conveying of something using a specific method or medium.

formulate with

Focuses on creating or developing something using specific tools or methods.

FAQs

How can I use "define by means of" in a sentence?

Use "define by means of" when you want to specify the method or process by which something is defined. For example, "The success of the project can be defined by means of specific, measurable outcomes".

What are some alternatives to "define by means of"?

You can use alternatives such as "define using", "define via", or "define through" depending on the specific context.

Is it more formal to say "define by means of" compared to "define using"?

"Define by means of" can sound slightly more formal than "define using". The choice depends on the tone and audience of your writing.

Can "define by means of" be used interchangeably with "explain by means of"?

While similar, "define by means of" is specifically about establishing a definition, whereas "explain by means of" is about clarifying or illustrating a concept. Use "define" when providing a formal explanation of something's nature or scope.