[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

function \func"tion\, n. l. functio, fr. fungi to perform,
   execute, akin to skr. bhuj to enjoy, have the use of: cf. f.
   fonction. cf. defunct.
   1. the act of executing or performing any duty, office, or
      calling; performance. "in the function of his public
      calling." --swift.
      1913 webster

   2. physiol. the appropriate action of any special organ or
      part of an animal or vegetable organism; as, the function
      of the heart or the limbs; the function of leaves, sap,
      roots, etc.; life is the sum of the functions of the
      various organs and parts of the body.
      1913 webster

   3. the natural or assigned action of any power or faculty, as
      of the soul, or of the intellect; the exertion of an
      energy of some determinate kind.
      1913 webster

            as the mind opens, and its functions spread. --pope.
      1913 webster

   4. the course of action which peculiarly pertains to any
      public officer in church or state; the activity
      appropriate to any business or profession.
      1913 webster

            tradesmen . . . going about their functions. --shak.
      1913 webster

            the malady which made him incapable of performing
            his
            regal functions.                      --macaulay.
      1913 webster

   5. math. a quantity so connected with another quantity,
      that if any alteration be made in the latter there will be
      a consequent alteration in the former. each quantity is
      said to be a function of the other. thus, the
      circumference of a circle is a function of the diameter.
      if x be a symbol to which different numerical values can
      be assigned, such expressions as x^2, 3^x, log. x, and
      sin. x, are all functions of x.
      1913 webster

   6. eccl. a religious ceremony, esp. one particularly
      impressive and elaborate.

            every solemn `function' performed with the
            requirements of the liturgy.          --card.
                                                  wiseman.
      webster 1913 suppl.

   7. a public or social ceremony or gathering; a festivity or
      entertainment, esp. one somewhat formal.

            this function, which is our chief social event. --w.
                                                  d. howells.
      webster 1913 suppl.

   algebraic function, a quantity whose connection with the
      variable is expressed by an equation that involves only
      the algebraic operations of addition, subtraction,
      multiplication, division, raising to a given power, and
      extracting a given root; -- opposed to transcendental
      function.

   arbitrary function. see under arbitrary.

   calculus of functions. see under calculus.

   carnot's function thermo-dynamics, a relation between the
      amount of heat given off by a source of heat, and the work
      which can be done by it. it is approximately equal to the
      mechanical equivalent of the thermal unit divided by the
      number expressing the temperature in degrees of the air
      thermometer, reckoned from its zero of expansion.

   circular functions. see inverse trigonometrical functions
      below. -- continuous function, a quantity that has no
      interruption in the continuity of its real values, as the
      variable changes between any specified limits.

   discontinuous function. see under discontinuous.

   elliptic functions, a large and important class of
      functions, so called because one of the forms expresses
      the relation of the arc of an ellipse to the straight
      lines connected therewith.

   explicit function, a quantity directly expressed in terms
      of the independently varying quantity; thus, in the
      equations y = 6x^2, y = 10 -x^3, the quantity y is an
      explicit function of x.

   implicit function, a quantity whose relation to the
      variable is expressed indirectly by an equation; thus, y
      in the equation x^2 + y^2 = 100 is an implicit
      function of x.

   inverse trigonometrical functions, or circular functions,
      the lengths of arcs relative to the sines, tangents, etc.
      thus, ab is the arc whose sine is bd, and if the length
      of bd is x is written sin ^-1x, and so of the other
      lines. see trigonometrical function below. other
      transcendental functions are the exponential functions,
      the elliptic functions, the gamma functions, the theta
      functions, etc.

   one-valued function, a quantity that has one, and only one,
      value for each value of the variable. -- transcendental
   functions, a quantity whose connection with the variable
      cannot be expressed by algebraic operations; thus, y in
      the equation y = 10^x is a transcendental function of x.
      see algebraic function above. -- trigonometrical
   function, a quantity whose relation to the variable is the
      same as that of a certain straight line drawn in a circle
      whose radius is unity, to the length of a corresponding
      are of the circle. let ab be an arc in a circle, whose
      radius oa is unity let ac be a quadrant, and let oc, db,
      and af be drawnpependicular to oa, and eb and cg parallel
      to oa, and let ob be produced to g and f. e then bd is the
      sine of the arc ab; od or eb is the cosine, af is the
      tangent, cg is the cotangent, of is the secant og is the
      cosecant, ad is the versed sine, and ce is the coversed
      sine of the are ab. if the length of ab be represented by
      x oa being unity then the lengths of functions. these
      lines oa being unity are the trigonometrical functions
      of x, and are written sin x, cos x, tan x or tang x, cot
      x, sec x, cosec x, versin x, coversin x. these quantities
      are also considered as functions of the angle boa.
      function
see also:
defunct 2 x algebraic function arbitrary function arbitrary 
calculus of functions calculus carnot's function circular functions inverse trigonometrical functions 
discontinuous function discontinuous elliptic functions explicit function 3 
implicit function -1 trigonometrical function one-valued function transcendental functions 
trigonometrical function 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

circular \cir"cular\, a. l. circularis, fr. circulus circle:
   cf. f. circulaire. see circle.
   1913 webster
   1. in the form of, or bounded by, a circle; round.
      1913 webster

   2. repeating itself; ending in itself; reverting to the point
      of beginning; hence, illogical; inconclusive; as, circular
      reasoning.
      1913 webster

   3. adhering to a fixed circle of legends; cyclic; hence,
      mean; inferior. see cyclic poets, under cyclic.
      1913 webster

            had virgil been a circular poet, and closely adhered
            to history, how could the romans have had dido?
                                                  --dennis.
      1913 webster

   4. addressed to a circle, or to a number of persons having a
      common interest; circulated, or intended for circulation;
      as, a circular letter.
      1913 webster

            a proclamation of henry iii., . . . doubtless
            circular throughout england.          --hallam.
      1913 webster

   5. perfect; complete. obs.
      1913 webster

            a man so absolute and circular
            in all those wished-for rarities that may take
            a virgin captive.                     --massinger.
      1913 webster

   circular are, any portion of the circumference of a circle.
      

   circular cubics math., curves of the third order which
      are imagined to pass through the two circular points at
      infinity.

   circular functions. math. see under function.

   circular instruments, mathematical instruments employed for
      measuring angles, in which the graduation extends round
      the whole circumference of a circle, or 360deg.

   circular lines, straight lines pertaining to the circle, as
      sines, tangents, secants, etc.

   circular note or circular letter.
      a com. see under credit.
      b diplomacy a letter addressed in identical terms to a
          number of persons.

   circular numbers arith., those whose powers terminate in
      the same digits as the roots themselves; as 5 and 6, whose
      squares are 25 and 36. --bailey. --barlow.

   circular points at infinity geom., two imaginary points
      at infinite distance through which every circle in the
      plane is, in the theory of curves, imagined to pass.

   circular polarization. min. see under polarization.

   circular sailing or globular sailing naut., the method
      of sailing by the arc of a great circle.

   circular saw. see under saw.
      1913 webster
see also:
circle cyclic poets cyclic circular are circular cubics circular functions 
function circular instruments circular lines circular note  or circular letter 
credit circular numbers circular points at infinity circular polarization polarization 
circular sailing globular sailing circular saw saw 

Circular >> C Words
Circular, definition of term: Circular
circular_pag1.html

Circular Polari >> C Words
Circular Polari, definition of term: Circular Polari
circular+polari_pag1.html

Circular File >> C Words
Circular File, definition of term: Circular File
circular+file_pag1.html