glean definition

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "glean definition" is not commonly used in written English. You can use it when referring to the act of gathering or extracting a definition from a source. An example could be: "I tried to glean a definition of the term from the article." Alternative expressions include "extract meaning" and "derive definition."

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

c) Make a list of the key concepts used in the text (can the reader glean a working definition of these concepts from the text?).

University of California, Berkeley

It also helps us glean the shifting definitions of what constitutes an American family.

University of California, Berkeley

We provide a standardized semantic and syntactic definition of minimotifs gleaned from the data contained within MnM 2, and have executed its implementation by refactoring approximately 5000 minimotif annotations within MnM.

BMC Genomics

Information gleaned from internal networks and virus definition repositories can serve as sources of threat intelligence, but much more needs to be done to deal with the constant stream of malicious IPs and domains, hacked and hijacked websites, infected files and phishing campaigns that are being spotted on the Internet.

TechCrunch

Information gleaned from internal networks and virus definition repositories can serve as sources of threat intelligence, but much more needs to be done to deal with the constant stream of malicious IPs and domains, hacked and hijacked websites, infected files and phishing campaigns that are being spotted on the Internet.

TechCrunch

Big data is by definition raw data - information gleaned by computers without rhyme or reason, verification or interpretation.

Huffington Post

The image is well known; it appears in the Larousse Dictionary of the French Language alongside the definition of the verb "glaner" (to glean).

The New York Times

Further articles containing definitions were gleaned from the medical errors literature searching with the MESH term Medical Error and the secondary text phrases "primary care," "family medicine" and "error reporting" (93, 37 and 78 abstracts reviewed, and a total of 16 additional articles reviewed).

BMC Family Practice

The epidemiology of invasive fungal infections has been difficult to glean from the literature because of the different definitions used, the different risk groups studied, and variation from institution to institution.

Clinical Epidemiology

In our private conversations, we all glean meanings that would not be found in the dictionary definitions of our words.

The Washington Post

Therefore, whatever the Russian security services manage to glean from Snowden's hard drives (or from Snowden himself) is by definition anodyne.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "glean definition", ensure the context clearly indicates that you are extracting or gathering a definition from a specific source or set of information. Consider rephrasing for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "glean definition" excessively in formal or academic writing; opt for more precise alternatives such as "extract", "derive", or "determine" to enhance the clarity and impact of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "glean definition" functions as a verbal phrase describing the action of extracting or gathering a definition from a source. Ludwig suggests this usage, though less common, is acceptable.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "glean definition" refers to the act of extracting or gathering a definition, often from a source where it is not explicitly stated. Although grammatically acceptable, as noted by Ludwig, it is not a frequently used phrase, and clearer alternatives like "extract the definition" or "derive a definition" may be preferred. Its usage spans across neutral to formal contexts, including news, academic, and scientific writing. Given its infrequent use, writers should consider more precise alternatives to enhance clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extract the definition

Focuses on the act of taking out the definition from a source.

derive a definition

Highlights the process of obtaining or deducing a definition.

ascertain the definition

Emphasizes the effort to find something out for certain.

determine the definition

Stresses the act of definitively establishing the meaning.

infer the definition

Implies deducing the definition from context.

gather the definition

Focuses on collecting information to understand the definition.

deduce the meaning

Highlights reasoning to understand the meaning.

understand the meaning

Focuses on the comprehension of the meaning.

capture the essence

Emphasizes grasping the most important aspect of the definition.

comprehend the definition

Highlights a complete understanding of the definition.

FAQs

How can I use "glean definition" in a sentence?

You can use "glean definition" to describe the act of extracting a definition from a source. For example, "I tried to glean definition of the term from the article", though it might be clearer to say, "I tried to "extract the definition" from the article".

What are some alternatives to "glean definition"?

Alternatives include ""extract the definition"", "derive a definition", or "ascertain the definition", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "glean a definition" or "glean the definition"?

Both "glean a definition" and "glean the definition" are grammatically correct, but "glean the definition" is generally preferred when referring to a specific definition from a known source, while "glean a definition" is used when seeking a general understanding.

What's the difference between "glean definition" and "find definition"?

"Glean definition" implies a more active and investigative process of extracting or gathering a definition from various sources. "Find definition" simply means to locate a definition, without necessarily implying effort or investigation.