Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /ˈfʌŋk.ʃən/Category:Entries with IPA pronunciation
• SAMPA: /"fVNkS@n/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

  Category:Entries with audio pronunciation
• Hyphenation: func‧tionCategory:2-syllable words

Noun

Function is on the Academic Vocabulary List.

Category:AVL

1. (countable & uncountable)Category:Countable nounsCategory:Uncountable nouns Something or someone's function is its purpose or its job.

   The army sometimes performs a policing function.

2. (countable)Category:Countable nouns A function is an organised event.

   I met Sylvia at a church function last week.

3. (countable)Category:Countable nouns If ${\displaystyle X}$ is a function of ${\displaystyle Y}$, then ${\displaystyle X}$ exists because of or is affected by ${\displaystyle Y}$

   The speed of the computer is a function of its main processor.

   When you see, ${\displaystyle Y=f(X)}$, you read it, "${\displaystyle Y}$ is a function of ${\displaystyle X}$". Here the value of ${\displaystyle Y}$ depends on the value assigned to the variable ${\displaystyle X}$.

Verb

1. (intransitive)Category:VerbsCategory:Intransitive verbs If something is functioning, it is working and is not completely broken.

   Her heart stopped, but her brain continued to function.

2. (intransitive)Category:VerbsCategory:Intransitive verbs If something functions as ${\displaystyle X}$, it does the job of ${\displaystyle X}$.

   In this sentence, "sentence" functions as the subject.