See Also: Functional(money)
functional(dictionary)
functional(dictionary)
Functional(medicine)
functional residual air(medicine)
Functional Utility Value(money)
Functional Obsolescence(money)
functional stricture(medicine)
functional splint(medicine)
functional sphincter(medicine)

functional (iou)



functional adjective & noun. M17.
[from FUNCTION noun + -AL1.]
A. adjective.
Of, pertaining to, or serving a function, office, or purpose; relating to activity rather than to structure or form. M17.
functional food a food containing health-giving additives. functional group Chemistry an atom or group of atoms present in a molecule of an organic compound which confers characteristic chemical properties on the compound.
Times Literary Supplement In a good poem imagery and rhythm are functional, not merely decorative. R. F. Chapman Even if there is no anatomical differentiation of the midgut there may be functional differentiation.
b. Medicine. Of a disorder (esp. mental): not caused by discernible organic disease. M19.
c. spec. Of architecture etc.: designed only or primarily with a view to its purpose; practical, utilitarian. M20.
Illustrated London News The outside of this building is functional and severe.
Math. Of or pertaining to a function (FUNCTION noun 5). E19.
functional calculus Logic = predicate calculus s.v. PREDICATE noun.
b. noun. Math. A function the value of which is a scalar depending on the whole form of another function. E20.
functio'nality noun L19.
functionally adverb E19.