What's the difference between definite and indefinite?

Definite


Definition:

  • (a.) Having certain or distinct; determinate in extent or greatness; limited; fixed; as, definite dimensions; a definite measure; a definite period or interval.
  • (a.) Having certain limits in signification; determinate; certain; precise; fixed; exact; clear; as, a definite word, term, or expression.
  • (a.) Determined; resolved.
  • (a.) Serving to define or restrict; limiting; determining; as, the definite article.
  • (n.) A thing defined or determined.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) Consensual but rationally weak criteria devised to extract inferences of causality from such results confirm the generic inadequacy of epidemiology in this area, and are unable to provide definitive scientific support to the perceived mandate for public health action.
  • (2) A definite relationship between intelligence level and the type of muscle disease was found.
  • (3) Definitive neurological deficits occurred in 0.09%, transient deficits were observed in 0.45%.
  • (4) Photograph: Guardian The research also compiled data covered by a wider definition of tax haven, including onshore jurisdictions such as the US state of Delaware – accused by the Cayman islands of playing "faster and looser" even than offshore jurisdictions – and the Republic of Ireland, which has come under sustained pressure from other EU states to reform its own low-tax, light-tough, regulatory environment.
  • (5) This observation not only provides definitive evidence for the photogeneration of O2-, but also indicates that only a fraction of this species is transformed into H2O2 in the absence of SOD.
  • (6) Definite tumor regression, improvement of some clinical symptoms, and continuous remission over 6 mo or more were observed in six, nine, and three patients, respectively.
  • (7) These findings lead to a definite diagnosis of chronic hypervitaminosis A.
  • (8) Currently there are no IOC approved definitive tests for these hormones but highly specific immunoassays combined with suitable purification techniques may be sufficient to warrant IOC approval.
  • (9) In the process, the DfE's definition of extremism has shifted from actual bomb-throwers to religious conservatives.
  • (10) This new way of thinking is reflected in the 1992 AAMR definition of what mental retardation is (Luckasson et al., 1992).
  • (11) Cholecystectomy provided successful treatment in three of the four patients but the fourth was too ill to undergo an operation; in general, definitive treatment is cholecystectomy, together with excision of the fistulous tract if this takes a direct path through the abdominal wall from the gallbladder, or curettage if the course is devious.
  • (12) Problem definition, the first step in policy development, includes identifying the issues, discussing and framing the issues, analyzing data and resources, and deciding on a problem definition.
  • (13) The value of benefit-risk, benefit-cost, and cost-effectiveness analyses lies not in providing the definitive basis for a decision on vaccine use or evaluation.
  • (14) In addition, a new dosage concepts has been introduced on the basis of the effective dose on the lines of the recommendations by the IRCP; as a result, the definitions of radiation protection areas and of dosage limit values had to be revised and reworded.
  • (15) The instrument is a definite aid to the surgeon, and does not penalize the time required for surgery.
  • (16) Bone age has been analyzed mixed-longitudinally in a subsample of 370 patients (660 observations) and showed a slight retardation at all ages between 6 and 13 yr. Development of pubic hair of 91 subjects analyzed cross-sectionally was definitely retarded when compared to adequate reference data.
  • (17) The patient was a forty-five-year-old female who had been troubled by obstinate Raynaud's phenomenon for ten years before the definite diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension was made.
  • (18) However, there is no definitive report showing that FGF exists in the thyroid.
  • (19) Four of 18 patients showed no change over the twenty-four hours while 7 patients showed some variation without definite diurnal pattern.
  • (20) No histological changes in the intestines were observed in the fasted poults whereas definite lesions were observed in the BCDCV-inoculated poults.

Indefinite


Definition:

  • (a.) Not definite; not limited, defined, or specified; not explicit; not determined or fixed upon; not precise; uncertain; vague; confused; obscure; as, an indefinite time, plan, etc.
  • (a.) Having no determined or certain limits; large and unmeasured, though not infinite; unlimited; as indefinite space; the indefinite extension of a straight line.
  • (a.) Boundless; infinite.
  • (a.) Too numerous or variable to make a particular enumeration important; -- said of the parts of a flower, and the like. Also, indeterminate.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) At present, anyone can bring a legal action for an indefinite period over a posted article.
  • (2) Comparing measurements of base line and 30 and 60% of Pmmax indicated that the degree of asynchrony, paradox, and variation in compartmental contribution were significantly related to the level of the load; significant abnormalities were observed at even 30% of Pmmax, a target pressure that can be sustained indefinitely.
  • (3) In contrast, administration of anti-Lyt-2 mAb alone (MST = greater than 47 days) or together with anti-L3T4 mAb (MST = greater than 50 days) caused prolonged or indefinite graft survival in all recipient mice.
  • (4) Government officials drew the public’s ire after charging Manning with three counts of misconduct following the suicide attempt, including two which carried possible penalties of indefinite solitary confinement.
  • (5) The authors insist on the interest of the latter prosthesis, made concurrently, easily and solidly fixed, and immediately and indefinitely well tolerated.
  • (6) It is concluded that maintenance treatment of ulcerative colitis with sulphasalazine should be continued indefinitely unless contraindicated by side effects.
  • (7) Explicit expressions are derived which describe the binding of a univalent ligand to equivalent and independent sites on each state of an acceptor undergoing indefinite self-association that is governed by an isodesmic equilibrium constant KI.
  • (8) Upon infection with the adenovirus 12-simian virus 40 hybrid virus, primary human epidermal keratinocytes acquired an indefinite life span in culture but did not undergo malignant conversion.
  • (9) It stores up a problem: you can spread staff thinner for a short period of time but unless there is a managed staff restructuring a department could struggle to ask colleagues to fill in indefinitely.
  • (10) Concomitant administration of ART-18 and ART-65 to recipient animals in relatively low doses exerted a strikingly synergistic effect, with 30% of the transplants surviving indefinitely and 50% undergoing late rejection over 50 d. These studies provide evidence that anti-IL-2-R mAbs selectively spare phenotypically distinct T cells with suppressor functions.
  • (11) IHMS appears complicit in plans to detain children and adolescents on Christmas Island long term (indefinitely),” the doctors write.
  • (12) Since these cells are of indefinite origin, there is no way to predict which HCO3- transporting system is operable in these cells and, hence, what effect HCO3- will have on the pHin and the response of pHin to mitogens.
  • (13) Acid fast rods, constituting chemoautotrophic nocardioform bacteria, could be repeatedly cultivated and isolated and propagated indefinitely in vitro from fish actinomycotic macrophage granuloma from the massive epizootics of ulcerative disease syndrome of fish in eastern India during 1988-90.
  • (14) The other patient may use this technique indefinitely.
  • (15) With appropriate management, androgen levels can be maintained within the normal range indefinitely.
  • (16) Statistical analysis of an accelerated storage test by extrapolation of viral degradation indicates that the lyophilized viruses are stable indefinitely at or below room temperature.
  • (17) It is concluded that, at the present time, antibiotic coverage for an indefinite period of time may be indicated for surgically or functionally asplenic patients.
  • (18) I think it’s unlikely that they have an H-bomb at the moment, but I don’t expect them to keep testing basic devices indefinitely, either,” said Jeffrey Lewis of the California-based Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey.
  • (19) Reduced CCT was found in chronic degenerations of leutic, tuberculous or indefinite nature.
  • (20) We consider that the long-term use of topical mechlorethamine may be a safe form of therapy, but that a continuous indefinite follow-up of patients on this medication should be mandatory.