Technical definition

Short description: Explanation of technical terminology

A technical definition is a definition in technical communication describing or explaining technical terminology. Technical definitions are used to introduce the vocabulary which makes communication in a particular field succinct and unambiguous. For example, the iliac crest from medical terminology is the top ridge of the hip bone (see ilium).

## Contents

* 1 Types of technical definitions
* 1.1 Examples
* 2 Sentence definitions
* 2.1 Examples
* 3 Extended definitions
* 3.1 Examples
* 4 References

## Types of technical definitions

There are three main types of technical definitions.[1][definition needed]

1. Power definitions
2. Secondary definitions
3. Extended definitions

### Examples

Aniline, a benzene ring with an amine group, is a versatile chemical used in many organic syntheses.

The genus Helogale (dwarf mongooses) contains two species.

## Sentence definitions

These definitions generally appear in three different places: within the text, in margin notes, or in a glossary. Regardless of position in the document, most sentence definitions follow the basic form of term, category, and distinguishing features.

### Examples

A major scale is a diatonic scale which has the semitone interval pattern 2-2-1-2-2-2-1.

* term: major scale
* category: diatonic scales
* distinguishing features: semitone interval pattern 2-2-1-2-2-2-1

In mathematics, an abelian group is a group which is commutative.

* term: abelian group
* category: mathematical groups
* distinguishing features: commutative

## Extended definitions

When a term needs to be explained in great detail and precision, an extended definition is used. They can range in size from a few sentences to many pages. Shorter ones are usually found in the text, and lengthy definitions are placed in a glossary. Relatively complex concepts in mathematics require extended definitions in which mathematical objects are declared (e.g., let x be a real number...) and then restricted by conditions (often signaled by the phrase such that). These conditions often employ the universal and/or existential quantifiers (for all ([math]\displaystyle{ \forall }[/math]), there exists ([math]\displaystyle{ \exists }[/math])).

Note: In mathematical definitions, convention dictates the use of the word if between the term to be defined and the definition; however, definitions should be interpreted as though if and only if were used in place of if.

### Examples

Definition of the limit of a single variable function:

> Let [math]\displaystyle{ f }[/math] be a real-valued function of a real variable and [math]\displaystyle{ x }[/math], [math]\displaystyle{ a }[/math], and [math]\displaystyle{ L }[/math] be real numbers. We say that the limit of [math]\displaystyle{ f }[/math] as [math]\displaystyle{ x }[/math] approaches [math]\displaystyle{ a }[/math] is [math]\displaystyle{ L }[/math] (or, [math]\displaystyle{ f(x) }[/math] tends to [math]\displaystyle{ L }[/math] as [math]\displaystyle{ x }[/math] approaches [math]\displaystyle{ a }[/math]) and write [math]\displaystyle{ \lim_{x\to a} f(x)=L }[/math] if, for all [math]\displaystyle{ \epsilon\gt 0 }[/math], there exists [math]\displaystyle{ \delta\gt 0 }[/math] such that whenever [math]\displaystyle{ x }[/math] satisfies [math]\displaystyle{ 0\lt |x-a|\lt \delta }[/math], the inequality [math]\displaystyle{ |f(x)-L|\lt \epsilon }[/math] holds.

## References

1. ↑ Johnson-Sheehan, R: Technical Communication Today, pages 507-522. Pearson Longman, 2007

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