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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Abstraction \Ab*strac"tion\, n. [Cf. F. abstraction. See
{Abstract}, a.]
1. The act of abstracting, separating, or withdrawing, or the
state of being withdrawn; withdrawal.
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A wrongful abstraction of wealth from certain
members of the community. --J. S. Mill.
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2. (Metaph.) The act process of leaving out of consideration
one or more properties of a complex object so as to attend
to others; analysis. Thus, when the mind considers the
form of a tree by itself, or the color of the leaves as
separate from their size or figure, the act is called
abstraction. So, also, when it considers whiteness,
softness, virtue, existence, as separate from any
particular objects.
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Note: Abstraction is necessary to classification, by which
things are arranged in genera and species. We separate
in idea the qualities of certain objects, which are of
the same kind, from others which are different, in
each, and arrange the objects having the same
properties in a class, or collected body.
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Abstraction is no positive act: it is simply the
negative of attention. --Sir W.
Hamilton.
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3. An idea or notion of an abstract, or theoretical nature;
as, to fight for mere abstractions.
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4. A separation from worldly objects; a recluse life; as, a
hermit's abstraction.
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5. Absence or absorption of mind; inattention to present
objects.
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6. The taking surreptitiously for one's own use part of the
property of another; purloining. [Modern]
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7. (Chem.) A separation of volatile parts by the act of
distillation. --Nicholson.
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