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ABILITY
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
The quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Hypernyms ("ability" is a kind of...):
quality (an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone)
Attribute:
unable ((usually followed by 'to') not having the necessary means or skill or know-how)
able ((usually followed by 'to') having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ability"):
immunocompetence (the ability to develop an immune response following exposure to an antigen)
totipotence; totipotency (the ability of a cell to give rise to unlike cells and so to develop a new organism or part)
capability; capableness (the quality of being capable -- physically or intellectually or legally)
contractility (the capability or quality of shrinking or contracting, especially by muscle fibers and even some other forms of living matter)
physical ability (the ability to perform some physical act; contrasting with mental ability)
penetration (the ability to make way into or through something)
Midas touch (an ability to make and manage large amounts of money)
magical ability; magical power (an ability to perform magic)
interoperability ((computer science) the ability to exchange and use information (usually in a large heterogeneous network made up of several local area networks))
form (an ability to perform well)
competence; competency (the quality of being adequately or well qualified physically and intellectually)
sensitiveness; sensitivity (the ability to respond to affective changes in your interpersonal environment)
adaptability (the ability to change (or be changed) to fit changed circumstances)
Antonym:
inability (lacking the power to perform)
Derivation:
able ((usually followed by 'to') having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something)
able (having inherent physical or mental ability or capacity)
able (have the skills and qualifications to do things well)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Possession of the qualities (especially mental qualities) required to do something or get something done
Example:
danger heightened his powers of discrimination
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Hypernyms ("ability" is a kind of...):
cognition; knowledge; noesis (the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning)
Attribute:
able ((usually followed by 'to') having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ability"):
faculty; mental faculty; module (one of the inherent cognitive or perceptual powers of the mind)
superior skill (more than ordinary ability)
hand (ability)
accomplishment; acquirement; acquisition; attainment; skill (an ability that has been acquired by training)
science; skill (ability to produce solutions in some problem domain)
originality (the ability to think and act independently)
creative thinking; creativeness; creativity (the ability to create)
capacity; mental ability (the power to learn or retain knowledge; in law, the ability to understand the facts and significance of your behavior)
bilingualism (the ability to speak two languages colloquially)
aptitude (inherent ability)
intelligence (the ability to comprehend; to understand and profit from experience)
leadership (the ability to lead)
know-how (the (technical) knowledge and skill required to do something)
Antonym:
inability (lack of ability (especially mental ability) to do something)
Derivation:
able ((usually followed by 'to') having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something)
able (having inherent physical or mental ability or capacity)
able (have the skills and qualifications to do things well)
Context examples:
Tumors may also occur in the brain and on nerves in the skull and spinal cord, and may cause loss of speech, eye movement, and the ability to swallow.
(Acoustic neurofibromatosis, NCI Dictionary)
As an atypical retinoid, adarotene has the ability to induce apoptosis which is independent of retinoid receptor signaling.
(Adarotene, NCI Thesaurus)
Wild-type AA-2 retains the ability to preferentially integrate its DNA into a 4 kilobase region of human chromosome 19, designated AAVS1, making it an attractive gene therapy vehicle.
(Adeno-Associated Virus Type 2, NCI Thesaurus)
Factors influencing this ability include geographic, architectural, transportational, and financial considerations, among others.
(Access to Care, NCI Thesaurus)
The test's ability to quantify zinc's clinically relevant levels, necessary to detect malnourishment, is one of its main innovations.
(Test for life-threatening nutrient deficit is made from bacteria entrails, National Science Foundation)
A question about whether an individual's ability to swallow limits or has limited their daily activities.
(Ability to Swallow Limits Daily Activities, NCI Thesaurus)
The clinical course depends on the ability to manage the withdrawal symptoms.
(Abstinence Syndrome, NCI Thesaurus)
Two or more head injuries within a very short amount of time can have really dire consequences for the brain lining and its ability to repair.
(Scientists watch the brain’s lining heal after a head injury, National Institutes of Health)
The charged characteristics of clay-based nanoparticles provide hemostatic ability to the hydrogels.
(Injectable Bandage Created, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)
You will have the ability to bring in new business if you are in sales or self-employed. (Don’t buy lotto tickets or gamble, though—this house does not rule prize winnings.)
(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)
