- the act of modifying or the condition of being modified
- something modified; the result of a modification
- a small change or adjustment
- the relation between a modifier and the word or phrase that it modifies
ˈmodifiˌcatory, ˈmodifiˌcative adj
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2016
mod•i•fi•ca•tion
(mod′ə fi kā′shən),USA pronunciation n.
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2016- an act or instance of modifying.
- the state of being modified;
partial alteration. - a modified form;
variety. - Biologya change in a living organism acquired from its own activity or environment and not transmitted to its descendants.
- limitation or qualification.
- Grammar
- the use of a modifier in a construction, or of modifiers in a class of constructions or in a language.
- the meaning of a modifier, esp. as it affects the meaning of the word or other form modified:Limitation is one kind of modification.
- a change in the phonological shape of a morpheme, word, or other form when it functions as an element in a construction, as the change of not to -n't in doesn't.
- an adjustment in the form of a word as it passes from one language to another.
- Latin modificātiōn- (stem of modificātiō), equivalent. to modificāt(us) (past participle of modificāre; see modify) + -iōn- -ion
- 1495–1505
mod•i•fy /ˈmɑdəˌfaɪ/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object], -fied, -fy•ing.
mod•i•fi•er, n. [countable]When the word model is used as a modifier, it goes before the noun it modifies, as in a model home.See -mod-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2016- to change somewhat the form or qualities of; amend:to modify a contract.
- Grammar(of a word, phrase, or clause) to describe, limit, or qualify (another word, phrase, or clause):In the phrase a good cook, the word good modifies the word cook.
mod•i•fi•er, n. [countable]When the word model is used as a modifier, it goes before the noun it modifies, as in a model home.See -mod-.
mod•i•fy
(mod′ə fī′),USA pronunciation v., -fied, -fy•ing.
v.t.
v.i.
mod′i•fi′a•bil′i•ty, mod′i•fi′a•ble•ness, n.
v.t.
- to change somewhat the form or qualities of;
alter partially;
amend:to modify a contract. - Grammar(of a word, phrase, or clause) to stand in a syntactically subordinate relation to (another word, phrase, or clause), usually with descriptive, limiting, or particularizing meaning;
be a modifier. In a good man, good modifies man. - Grammarto be the modifier or attribute of.
- Linguisticsto change (a vowel) by umlaut.
- to reduce or lessen in degree or extent;
moderate;
soften:to modify one's demands.
v.i.
- to be or become modified.
mod′i•fi′a•bil′i•ty, mod′i•fi′a•ble•ness, n.
- Latin modificāre to impose a rule or pattern, regulate, restrain. See mode1, -ify
- Middle French modifier
- Middle English modifien 1350–1400
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged vary, adjust, shape, reform.
- 5.See corresponding entry in Unabridged Modify, qualify, temper suggest altering an original statement, condition, or the like, so as to avoid anything excessive or extreme. To modify is to alter in one or more particulars, generally in the direction of leniency or moderation:to modify demands, rates.To qualify is to restrict or limit by exceptions or conditions:to qualify one's praise, hopes.To temper is to alter the quality of something, generally so as to diminish its force or harshness:to temper one's criticism with humor.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
modification /ˌmɒdɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/ n
ˈmodifiˌcatory, ˈmodifiˌcative adj
ˈmodifiˌcatory, ˈmodifiˌcative adj
'modification' also found in these entries:
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- Heian
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- Prout
- Reich
- accidence
- adaptation
- adjustment
- alteration
- altered state of consciousness
- augmentation
- back formation
- behavior modification
- carioca
- change
- chromatic
- codicil
- compatible
- compromise
- desensitization
- designer drug
- diamond
- differentiate
- dyke
- earthwork
- flageolet
- flame
- flat
- flexible
- folk etymology
- form
- gallivant
- gas
- genetically modified
- glance
- gorge
- image processing
- inflection
- inversion
- jota
- jujube
- loan word
- plutonium
- polonium
- spitting image
- trillium
- umlaut
- vary