universal

universal

synonyms, antonyms, definitions, examples & translations of universal in English

English Online Dictionary. What means universal‎? What does universal mean?

English

Etymology

From Middle English universal, from Old French universal (modern French universel), from Latin ūniversālis.

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsl̩/
  • (General American) IPA(key): /ˌjunɪˈvɝsl̩/
  • Hyphenation: uni‧ver‧sal
  • Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)səl

Adjective

universal (comparative more universal, superlative most universal)

  1. Of or pertaining to the universe.
  2. Common to all members of a group or class.
  3. Common to all society; worldwide.
  4. Unlimited; vast; infinite.
  5. Useful for many purposes; all-purpose.

Synonyms

  • (common to all members of a group or class): general; see also Thesaurus:generic
  • (unlimited): see also Thesaurus:infinite
  • (useful for many purposes): general-purpose, multi-purpose

Antonyms

  • nonuniversal

Derived terms

Related terms

  • universe
  • university
  • universality

Translations

See also

  • general
  • global

Noun

universal (plural universals)

  1. (philosophy) A characteristic or property that particular things have in common.

See also

  • particular

Further reading

  • “universal”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
  • “universal”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
  • S:Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)/Universals
  • The Medieval Problem of Universals - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Catalan

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin ūniversālis. First attested in c. 1400.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): (Central) [u.ni.βərˈsal]
  • IPA(key): (Balearic) [u.ni.vərˈsal]
  • IPA(key): (Valencia) [u.ni.veɾˈsal]

Adjective

universal m or f (masculine and feminine plural universals)

  1. universal

Derived terms

  • universalment

Related terms

  • univers
  • universalitat

References

Further reading

  • “universal” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
  • “universal” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
  • “universal” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.

Crimean Tatar

Adjective

universal

  1. universal

References

  • “universal”, in Luğatçıq (in Russian)

Danish

Adjective

universal

  1. Alternative spelling of universel

Inflection

References

  • “universal” in Den Danske Ordbog

Galician

Etymology

From Latin ūniversālis.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /unibeɾˈsal/ [u.ni.β̞eɾˈs̺ɑɫ]
  • Rhymes: -al
  • Hyphenation: u‧ni‧ver‧sal

Adjective

universal m or f (plural universais)

  1. of or pertaining to the universe
  2. world-wide, universal, common to all cultures
    Synonym: mundial

Derived terms

  • universalmente

Related terms

  • universalidade
  • universo

Further reading

  • “universal”, in Dicionario da Real Academia Galega (in Galician), A Coruña: Royal Galician Academy, 2012–2024
  • “universal” in Dicionário Estraviz de galego (2014).

German

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin ūniversālis.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /univɛʁˈzaːl/
  • Rhymes: -aːl

Adjective

universal (strong nominative masculine singular universaler, comparative universaler, superlative am universalsten)

  1. universal

Declension

Further reading

  • “universal” in Duden online
  • “universal” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache

Middle English

Alternative forms

  • universall, unyversal, universalle, universell, uniyversale, universele, universel

Etymology

From Old French universel, from Latin ūniversālis; equivalent to universe +‎ -al.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /iu̯niˈvɛrsal/, /iu̯nivɛrˈsaːl/, /iu̯niˈvɛrsɛl/

Adjective

universal

  1. all-encompassing, subject to everything and everyone; having universal significance.
  2. (Late Middle English) absolute, subject to everything in a given area or subject (e.g. a settlement; a person)
  3. (Late Middle English) frequently practiced, usual, customary.
  4. (Late Middle English, rare) Given total leeway and control; with universal power.
  5. (Late Middle English, rare) unbiased, unprejudiced, nonpolitical
  6. (Late Middle English, rare) general, non-specific, generic
  7. (Late Middle English, philosophy, rare) unformed, uncreated, unmade.
  8. (Late Middle English, philosophy, rare) theoretical, abstract, general.

Derived terms

  • universalite
  • universally

Descendants

  • English: universal

References

  • “ūniversā̆l, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-04-31.

Noun

universal

  1. (Late Middle English, philosophy, rare) A category, class, or classification.

Descendants

  • English: universal

References

  • “ūniversā̆l, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-04-31.

Determiner

universal

  1. (Late Middle English) The whole, all of, every portion of, all parts of.
  2. (Late Middle English, rare) Every kind of; all sorts of

References

  • “ūniversā̆l, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-04-31.

Occitan

Etymology

From Latin ūniversālis.

Pronunciation

Adjective

universal m (feminine singular universala, masculine plural universals, feminine plural universalas)

  1. universal

Derived terms

  • universalament

Related terms

  • univèrs
  • universalitat

Old French

Etymology

From Latin ūniversālis.

Adjective

universal m (oblique and nominative feminine singular universale)

  1. universal

Descendants

  • French: universel
  • → Middle English: universal, universall, unyversal, universalle, universell, uniyversale, universele, universel
    • English: universal

Piedmontese

Alternative forms

  • üniversal

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ynivɛrˈsal/

Adjective

universal

  1. universal

Portuguese

Etymology

From Latin ūniversālis.

Pronunciation

  • Hyphenation: u‧ni‧ver‧sal

Adjective

universal m or f (plural universais, comparable, comparative mais universal, superlative o mais universal or universalíssimo)

  1. (relational) universe; universal
  2. common to all society; universal; world-wide
  3. common to all members of a group or class; universal

Derived terms

  • universalmente

Related terms

  • universalidade
  • universo

Further reading

  • “universal” in Dicionário Aberto based on Novo Diccionário da Língua Portuguesa de Cândido de Figueiredo, 1913

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from French universel, from Latin universalis. By surface analysis, univers +‎ -al.

Adjective

universal m or n (feminine singular universală, masculine plural universali, feminine and neuter plural universale)

  1. universal

Declension

Related terms

  • universalitate

Spanish

Etymology

From Latin ūniversālis.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /unibeɾˈsal/ [u.ni.β̞eɾˈsal]
  • Rhymes: -al
  • Syllabification: u‧ni‧ver‧sal

Adjective

universal m or f (masculine and feminine plural universales)

  1. universal

Derived terms

Related terms

Further reading

  • “universal”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.7, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 2023 November 28

Anagrams

  • vulneráis

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This article based on an article on Wiktionary. The list of authors can be seen in the page history there. The original work has been modified. This article is distributed under the terms of this license.