function
[noun]
Synonyms:
- purpose, business, duty, job, mission, raison d'être, responsibility, role, task
- reception, affair, do (informal), gathering, social occasion
[verb]
Synonyms:
- work, act, behave, do duty, go, operate, perform, run

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Related Words: affair, concern, job, task, work, action, behavior, operation, do, operate, perform

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English Thesaurus: do, do your work/homework etc, do the shopping/cooking/washing etc, do a test/experiment/some research, do a course, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. func‧tion¹ S3 W1 AC /ˈfʌŋkʃən/ noun
[Word Family: noun: function, functionality; verb: function; adverb: functionally; adjective: functional]
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: functio, from fungi 'to perform']

1. [uncountable and countable] the purpose that something has, or the job that someone or something does
perform/fulfil a function
In your new job you will perform a variety of functions.
The church fulfils a valuable social function.
The nervous system regulates our bodily functions (=eating, breathing, going to the toilet etc).
Bauhaus architects thought that function was more important than form.

2. [countable] a large party or official event:
This room may be hired for weddings and other functions.

3. [countable usually singular] technical a quantity or quality whose value changes according to another quantity or quality that is related to it:
The degree of drought is largely a function of temperature and drainage.

4. [countable] one of the basic operations performed by a computer

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. function² AC verb [intransitive]
[Word Family: noun: function, functionality; verb: function; adverb: functionally; adjective: functional]

1. to work in the correct or intended way Synonym : operate
function normally/correctly/properly etc
Flights in and out of Taipei are functioning normally again.
Her legs have now ceased to function.
You know I can’t function (=cannot perform normal activities) without a coffee in the morning.

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In everyday English, people usually say that something works rather than functions:
If the system is working as it should, you’ll be paid within two weeks.

2. if something functions in a particular way, it works in that way:
an understanding of how the economy functions
function as something phrasal verb
if something functions as a particular thing, it does what that type of thing normally does, or is used as that thing:
A library is functioning as a temporary hospital to cope with casualties.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

function
noun
I. purpose/special duty of sb/sth
ADJ. crucial, essential, important, useful, valuable, vital | chief, main, major, primary, prime | dual The committee has a dual function, both advisory and regulatory.
bodily, brain, liver, mental, etc. Fortunately, his head injuries left his bodily functions unimpaired.
VERB + FUNCTION have | carry out, fulfil, perform, serve All members carry out their own particular functions. The club serves a useful function as a meeting place.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

function
II. important social event
ADJ. charity, official, social The princess attended a charity function in aid of cancer research.
VERB + FUNCTION hold | attend, go to
FUNCTION + NOUN room The wedding reception will be held in the Swan Hotel's function room.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

function
verb
ADV. effectively, efficiently, smoothly, successfully, well | perfectly | correctly, normally, properly All the instruments were functioning normally.
adequately, satisfactorily Problems arise when the body's immune system is not functioning adequately.
independently Can we devise a system in which judges function independently of party poltics?
actually This model does not describe accurately the way a market economy actually functions.
still The bombs continued to fall, but somehow the city still functioned.
VERB + FUNCTION be able/unable to, can/could When nutrients are in short supply the body cannot function properly.
begin to | continue to | cease to
PHRASES fully functioning The group has now become a fully functioning political organization.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

do to do something – used in the following phrases: do your work/homework etc:
It usually takes me a couple of hours to do my homework.
⇒ do the shopping/cooking/washing etc:
She’s gone to the supermarket to do the shopping.
⇒ do a test/experiment/some research:
The doctor did some tests.
Fraser spent some time in Egypt doing some archaeological research.
Scientists are doing research on two types of vaccine.
⇒ do a course:
Have you decided which course you want to do at university?
make to do something – used in the following phrases: make a speech:
The Prince made a short speech.
⇒ make a comment/suggestion/joke:
Can I make a suggestion?
⇒ make a decision:
The committee will meet to make their final decision.
⇒ make a mistake:
I think someone has made a mistake.
give to do something – used in the following phrases: give a talk/speech/lecture:
They’ve asked him to give a talk.
⇒ give a performance:
The band gave a brilliant performance.
take to do something – used in the following phrases: take a test/exam:
Kate’s taking her driving test tomorrow.
⇒ take a bath/shower:
I think I’ll go and take a shower.
⇒ take a walk:
Normally, he took a walk in the evenings.
commit to do something that is a crime, especially a serious crime: commit a crime:
The crime was committed in the early hours of the morning.
⇒ commit a robbery/murder etc:
Dixon later admitted committing the robbery.
carry out something to do something – used in the following phrases: carry out your work:
The violence is making it difficult for firefighters to carry out their work.
⇒ carry out a task/duty:
He still managed to carry out his duties.
⇒ carry out a survey/test/some research:
The hospital carries out research into skin diseases.
⇒ carry out an operation:
The operation was carried out at a hospital in Paris.
⇒ carry out a threat/promise:
They didn’t carry out their threat to kill the hostages.
⇒ carry out sb’s orders/instructions/wishes:
I’m sure I can rely on you to carry out my instructions.
perform to do something. Perform is more formal than carry out, and is used in the following phrases: perform a task/duty:
The job mostly involves performing administrative tasks.
⇒ perform an operation:
A team of surgeons performed the operation.
conduct to do something – used in the following phrases: conduct a survey/study/experiment:
They conducted a survey of approximately 2,000 people living in the area.
⇒ conduct an inquiry/investigation:
The police are conducting an investigation into the cause of the fire.
⇒ conduct an interview:
Knowing how to conduct a successful interview is a skill.
⇒ conduct a campaign:
People were unimpressed by the way in which the election campaign was conducted.
go about something to do your work or the things that you usually do, especially when something serious has happened: go about your work/business:
The next day she went about her business as if nothing had happened.
get on with something spoken especially British English to start doing something that you should have started already or to continue doing something that you stopped doing for a short time:
I need to get on with my homework.
be up to something spoken to be doing something that you think is probably bad, although you do not know exactly what it is:
I’m sure they’re up to something.
What’s Jake up to? He’s been upstairs in his room all day.
party a social event when a lot of people meet together to enjoy themselves by eating, drinking, dancing etc:
We’re having a party for Sarah’s 40th birthday.
I met my boyfriend at a party.
get-together an informal party:
Christmas is the perfect time for a family get-together.
ball a large formal party where people dance:
the end of term ball
rave a large party which is held outside or in an empty building, where people dance to music and take illegal drugs
reception a large formal party, especially one after a wedding or to welcome an important person:
The wedding reception is at a nearby hotel.
a reception for the Thai Foreign Minister
They attended a White House reception to mark the Queen’s visit.
function a large formal or official party:
He has been asked to play at many corporate functions (=an official party held by a company).
celebration a party or special event that is organized in order to celebrate something:
the country’s 50th anniversary celebrations
It was a 21st birthday celebration which Mary would never forget.
bash informal a party, especially a big one that a lot of famous people go to – used especially in journalism:
the star’s birthday bash
a picture of him at a Hollywood bash
a showbiz bash
dinner party a party where people are invited to someone’s house for an evening meal:
I met him at a dinner party.
house-warming (party) a party that you have when you move into a new house:
We’re having a house-warming next week.
cocktail party (also drinks party British English) a party that people go to in order to talk and have a drink together for a few hours
fancy-dress party British English, costume party American English a party where people dress in special clothes, for example to look like a famous person or a character in a story
hen party especially British English a social event just before a wedding, for a woman who is getting married and her female friends
stag night British English, bachelor party American English a social event just before a wedding, for a man who is getting married and his male friends
baby/wedding shower American English an event at which people give presents to a woman who is going to have a baby or get married

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

party a social event when a lot of people meet together to enjoy themselves by eating, drinking, dancing etc:
We’re having a party for Sarah’s 40th birthday.
I met my boyfriend at a party.
get-together an informal party:
Christmas is the perfect time for a family get-together.
ball a large formal party where people dance:
the end of term ball
rave a large party which is held outside or in an empty building, where people dance to music and take illegal drugs
reception a large formal party, especially one after a wedding or to welcome an important person:
The wedding reception is at a nearby hotel.
a reception for the Thai Foreign Minister
They attended a White House reception to mark the Queen’s visit.
function a large formal or official party:
He has been asked to play at many corporate functions (=an official party held by a company).
celebration a party or special event that is organized in order to celebrate something:
the country’s 50th anniversary celebrations
It was a 21st birthday celebration which Mary would never forget.
bash informal a party, especially a big one that a lot of famous people go to – used especially in journalism:
the star’s birthday bash
a picture of him at a Hollywood bash
a showbiz bash
do British English informal a party:
We’re having a do to celebrate Margaret’s birthday.
dinner party a party where people are invited to someone’s house for an evening meal:
I met him at a dinner party.
house-warming (party) a party that you have when you move into a new house:
We’re having a house-warming next week.
cocktail party (also drinks party British English) a party that people go to in order to talk and have a drink together for a few hours
fancy-dress party British English, costume party American English a party where people dress in special clothes, for example to look like a famous person or a character in a story
hen party especially British English a social event just before a wedding, for a woman who is getting married and her female friends
stag night British English, bachelor party American English a social event just before a wedding, for a man who is getting married and his male friends
baby/wedding shower American English an event at which people give presents to a woman who is going to have a baby or get married

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲