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Definition of function : 1. A public or social ceremony or gathering; a festivity or entertainment, esp. one somewhat formal.
2. 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 x2, 3x, Log. x, and Sin. x, are all functions of x.
3. A religious ceremony, esp. one particularly impressive and elaborate.
4. Alt. of Functionate
5. The act of executing or performing any duty, office, or calling; per formance.
6. 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.
7. The course of action which peculiarly pertains to any public officer in church or state; the activity appropriate to any business or profession.
8. 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.

Synonyms:

component part, reception, business, share, hold up, make for, hunt, business office, unravel, turn, usance, manoeuver, die hard, design, federal agency, serve well, fete, task, spot, answer, map, lean, suffice, bring, exploit, melt, pass away, crop, belong, maneuver, lead, percentage, part, operate on, conk out, social function, celebration, fail, head for the hills, accountability, run low, swear out, mathematical function, endure, region, shape, persona, course, rifle, mesh, single-valued function, fit, office, tend, race, scat, hunt down, act upon, purpose, get-together, live on, soiree, snuff it, flow, contribution, go, post, work on, range, get going, bunk, job, modus operandi, chromosome mapping, festivity, be given, help, duty, bit, attend to, travel, gala, occasion, situation, melt down, make, escape, division, obligation, guide, responsibility, office staff, scarper, manoeuvre, last, run, take to the woods, portion, dish up, dish, procedure, prevail, blend, righteousness, locomote, serve up, run for, berth, place, aim, ply, government agency, ferment, do work, sour, theatrical role, extend, perish, decease, assist, affair, position, pass, kick the bucket, sound, subroutine, mapping, parting, matter, power, persist, forge, juncture, subprogram, social occasion, faculty, bureau, dish out, hold out, hightail it, lick, incline, solve, puzzle out, manipulation, buy the farm, consort, choke, survive, cultivate, role, cash in one's chips, determination, economic consumption, figure out, influence, exit, liaison, mould, form, utilisation, fly the coop, break away, piece, group, lock, attend, amour, conk, habit, wait on, ladder, enjoyment, use of goods and services, start, intimacy, carry, billet, right, run away, affaire, get, wreak, control, pop off, blend in, involvement, go bad, black market, gathering, character, authority, process, live, knead, break down, die, component, turn tail, give out, proceed, expire, routine, put to work, party, drop dead, feed, break, run short, give-up the ghost, play, give way, constituent, thing, section, intent, croak, draw, lam, become, number, work out, consumption, bleed, plump, capacity, depart, agency, intention, voice, go away, campaign, track down, mold, bash, engage

endeavor, labor, appear, perform, perpetrate, move, do, exercise, transact, behave, enterprise, officiate, react, conduct, operate, work, comport, act, execute

employ, exert, effect, apply, implement, utilize, serve

toil

operation, usage, application, utilization, service, exertion, employment, utility, practice, use

Usage examples:

• True, the mind does minister to the body and preserve it; but still more does the body minister to the mind; or rather, each ministers to that whole in which the play of the mind is the principal function and the play of the body subordinate. - "The Faith of the Millions (2nd series)", George Tyrrell.
• A crowd had followed the cab out of the town; now they reached the scene of the " State Function"- and they all cried out: " Fair play- play fair! - "The Book of Dragons", Edith Nesbit.
• I might put it briefly thus: the chief function of the high school should be to help the child to become acquainted with himself and begin the planning of his future. - "On the Firing Line in Education", Adoniram Judson Ladd.