- existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence抽象的：
abstract concepts such as love or beauty.
诸如爱或美之类的抽象概念。
- dealing with ideas rather than events纯概念的：
the novel was too abstract and esoteric to sustain much attention.
这本小说太玄奥以至于没能引起多少注意。
- not based on a particular instance; theoretical理论上的; 不切实际的：
we have been discussing the problem in a very abstract manner.
我们一直在不切实际地讨论这个问题。
- (of a word, especially a noun) denoting an idea, quality, or state rather than a concrete object（词汇, 尤指名词）抽象的：
abstract words like truth or equality.
像真理或平等之类的抽象词语。
- of or relating to abstract art（与）抽象派（有关）的：
abstract pictures.
抽象画。
- consider (something) theoretically or separately from something else抽象化, 从理论上（或孤立地）考虑：
to abstract science and religion from their historical context can lead to anachronism.
抽去历史背景孤立地考虑科学和宗教可能导致年代误植。
- no obj. form a general idea in this way形成抽象概念：
he cannot form a general notion by abstracting from particulars.
他无法从个别事项中抽象出一般概念。
- extract or remove (something)提取, 去除（某物）：
applications to abstract more water from streams.
从溪流中抽取更多水的设备。
- used euphemistically to indicate that someone has stolen something〈婉〉拿走（暗指偷窃）：
his pockets contained all he had been able to abstract from the flat.
他口袋里装满了所有他能从公寓里“拿”走的东西。
abstract oneself
withdraw退出：as our relationship deepened you seemed to abstract yourself.
我们的关系加深了, 而你却似乎想退出。
- make a written summary of (an article or book)写（文章, 书）的摘要：
staff who index and abstract material for an online database.
为在线数据库编写索引和材料摘要的人员。
- a summary or statement of the contents of a book, article, or formal speech摘要, 梗概：
an abstract of her speech.
她的讲话摘要。
- an abstract work of art抽象艺术作品：
a big unframed abstract.
一张大幅的无边框抽象画。
the abstract
that which is abstract; the theoretical consideration of something抽象的东西; 理论思考：the abstract must be made concrete by examples.
抽象概念必须用例子来具体说明。
in the abstract
- in a general way; without reference to specific instances泛泛地; 总体地; 抽象地：
there's a fine line between promoting US business interests in the abstract and promoting specific companies.
增进美国的全局商业利益和促进具体公司的发展之间有微妙的差别。