Pronunciation

/ˈfʌŋkʃən/

Definitions

• Noun: (n) The purpose or action that something is designed to perform; its role or capability within a system or process. Example: “The function of the heart is to pump blood throughout the body.”

  • Also, a mathematical operation or relation that assigns to each element of one set exactly one element of another set. Example: “The function f(x) = x^2 calculates the square of any input value x.”

• Verb: (v) To work or operate in a particular way; to have a specific purpose or effect. Example: “This machine functions by converting kinetic energy into electricity.”

  • Also, to hold a social event or gathering. Example: “They will be functioning a charity dinner next week.”

Phrases

• “Serve its function” means to fulfill its intended purpose or duty. Example: “This tool serves its function well.”
• “Function as” means to operate or act in the capacity of something else. Example: “In his absence, she functioned as the team leader.”
• “Functional requirements” refer to the specific tasks a product or system must perform in order to meet the needs of its users.

Example Sentences

• Noun: “One of the key functions of government is to maintain law and order.”
• Verb: “Despite the damage, the car still functions perfectly fine.”

Synonyms

• Purpose
• Role
• Operation
• Performance
• Capability (noun)
• Operate
• Work
• Perform (verb)

For the mathematical context:

• Procedure
• Map
• Transformation
• Operation

For the social event context:

• Host
• Organize
• Conduct
• Stage