functional

From function +‎ -al.

• IPA^(key): /ˈfʌŋkt͡ʃənəl/, /ˈfʌŋkt͡ʃnəl/

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functional (comparative more functional, superlative most functional)

1. In good working order.
   • 2002, Ludo Verhoeven, Carsten Elbro, Pieter Reitsma, editors, Precursors of Functional Literacy‎:

     While we assume that phonological subsyllabic units are functional prior to reading skill, we have not ruled out a possible interaction with the writing system.

2. Useful; serving a purpose, fulfilling a function.

   That sculpture is not merely artistic, but also functional: it can be used as a hatrack.

3. Only for functional purposes, notably in architecture.

   A functional construction element generally must meet higher technical but lower aesthetical requirements.

4. Of or relating to one's role or office; official.

   functional responsibilities

5. (mathematics) Of or relating to a function or functions.
6. (computing theory) Having semantics defined purely in terms of mathematical functions, without side-effects.

   Synonym: pure

   Antonym: imperative

7. (medicine) Of a disease, such that its symptoms cannot be referred to any appreciable lesion or change of structure; opposed to organic disease, in which the organ itself is affected.

• functioning, working
• utilitarian

• dysfunctional
• non-functional, nonfunctional, unfunctional
• (antonym(s) of “medicine: not referrable to a change of structure”): organic

functional (plural functionals)

1. (mathematics) A function that takes a function as its argument; more precisely, a function whose argument varies in a space of (real or complex valued) functions and whose value belongs to a monodimensional space.

   An example of a functional is the definite integration of integrable real functions in a real interval.

2. (mathematics, functional analysis) A scalar-valued linear function on a vector space.
3. (computing) An object encapsulating a function pointer (or equivalent).

• functional analysis
• functional analysis diagram
• linear functional

• functional on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

• “functional”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “functional”, in The Century Dictionary , New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• “functional”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.