define time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "define time" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when asking for a clarification or explanation of the concept of time in various contexts, such as philosophy, science, or everyday conversation. Example: "In our discussion about the nature of existence, can you help me define time?"

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

Thanks to this functionality, it is possible for MAC designers to define time critical protocols without the need to know hardware specific timing information.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

It is scrupulous in its attention to all the surface details that define time, place and mood.

The New York Times

The seemingly simpler words that he tries to define — "time" and "space," for example — carry a challenge that has a kind of schoolboy appeal.

The New Yorker

I do not define time, space, place, and motion, as being well known to all.

SEP

Different cultures define time differently and they give different values to the past, present and future.

Smart Learning Environments

From the main page (http://nodc.ogs.trieste.it/sosWeb/), it is possible to search sensors, identify phenomena, and define time intervals.

Open Geospatial Data, Software and Standards

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

Historic groundwater conditions are poorly documented and insufficient information exists to define time-variant groundwater levels.

Ecological Processes

Using upper and lower solutions for the characteristic equation, we define time-dependent upper and lower boundaries for a solution in a constant environment.

Boundary Value Problems

As a consequence, a few authors [13, 24, 25] have attempted to define time-dependent models of Gibbs distributions where constraints include time-dependent correlations between pairs, triplets, and so on [26].

The Journal of Mathematical Neuroscience

The Cohen's class of STFD of a data vector x t) is expressed as {D}_{xx}left t,fright)=iint phi left t-u,tau right)xleft t-u,tautau }{2}right){xleft u+frac{taurac{tau }{2}right){e}^{-j2pi ftau} dudtau (6)where φ(t, τ) is the time-frequency kernel function and it uniquely be used to define time-frequency distributions.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

As we sought to define time-dependent effects of canonical Wnt signaling in our study, we therefore chose to proceed with Wnt3a stimulation.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "define time" in technical writing, ensure that you provide a clear and specific context for your definition. State what aspects of "time" you are addressing (e.g. duration, sequence, simultaneity) and what framework you are using (e.g. physics, philosophy, project management).

Common error

A common mistake is to define "time" using concepts that are themselves dependent on time, such as motion or change, without providing a more fundamental basis for understanding. Ensure your definition offers genuine clarity and avoids circular reasoning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "define time" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to indicate the act of explaining, specifying, or establishing the meaning, limits, or parameters of the concept of time. As Ludwig AI explains, this usage is grammatically correct and widely applicable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

62%

News & Media

27%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "define time" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It serves to clarify or specify the concept of "time" in diverse settings ranging from scientific research to media reports. While the phrase is versatile, ensure your definition is contextually relevant and avoids circular reasoning. Alternative phrases like "explain time", "specify time", or "characterize time" can be used depending on the specific meaning you want to convey. In general, "define time" maintains a neutral to formal tone suitable for professional and academic discourse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

determine time

Focuses on establishing a specific time or duration.

specify time

Highlights making time precise or exact.

characterize time

Implies describing the qualities or nature of time.

ascertain time

Highlights finding something out for certain time-wise.

set the time

A more casual way of saying fixing a moment in time.

explain time

Suggests clarifying the concept or nature of time.

establish the time

Deals with the act of setting the time in a formal or official way.

interpret time

Focuses on understanding the meaning or significance of time.

conceptualize time

Emphasizes forming a mental representation or understanding of time.

delineate time

Emphasizes the act of marking or indicating the limits or boundaries of time.

FAQs

How can I use "define time" in a sentence?

You can use "define time" to express the act of explaining or specifying what time means in a particular context. For example, "Philosophers have long sought to define time" or "In project management, we need to define timeframes for each task".

What's a good alternative to "define time"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "explain time", "specify time", or "characterize time" to convey similar meanings.

Is it correct to say "define the time" instead of "define time"?

While "define time" refers to explaining the concept of time, "define the time" typically means specifying a particular time. For instance, "Can you define the time of the meeting?" is asking for the meeting's scheduled time.

How do different cultures "define time"?

Different cultures may have varying perceptions and systems for organizing and measuring time. These cultural differences influence how they "interpret time" and structure their daily activities.