DEMARCATION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does demarcation mean? 

• DEMARCATION (noun)
  The noun DEMARCATION has 2 senses:

1. the boundary of a specific area

2. a conceptual separation or distinction

  Familiarity information: DEMARCATION used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DEMARCATION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The boundary of a specific area

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Synonyms:

demarcation; demarcation line; limit

Hypernyms ("demarcation" is a kind of...):

bound; boundary; bounds (the line or plane indicating the limit or extent of something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "demarcation"):

edge (the outside limit of an object or area or surface; a place farthest away from the center of something)

city limit; city limits (the limits of the area occupied by a city or town)

upper limit (the limit on the upper (or northernmost) side of something)

lower limit (the limit on the lower (or southernmost) side of something)

three-mile limit (the limit of a nation's territorial waters)

Derivation:

demarcate (set, mark, or draw the boundaries of something)

demarcate (separate clearly, as if by boundaries)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A conceptual separation or distinction

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

contrast; demarcation; dividing line; line

Context example:

there is a narrow line between sanity and insanity

Hypernyms ("demarcation" is a kind of...):

differentiation; distinction (a discrimination between things as different and distinct on the basis of their characteristics or attributes)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "demarcation"):

point of no return; Rubicon (a line that when crossed permits of no return and typically results in irrevocable commitment)

Derivation:

demarcate (separate clearly, as if by boundaries)

 Context examples 

Also, the park's land demarcation was never carried out.

(Brazilian savanna unprotected, study finds, Agência Brasil)

A finding of congenital malformations in both kidneys characterized by the presence of cysts of various sizes, primitive ducts, islands of metaplastic cartilage and undifferentiated mesenchyme, and the absence of cortico-medullary demarcation.

(Bilateral Renal Dysplasia, NCI Thesaurus)

Well delineated demarcation and absence of lepidic growth are considered by some as indicators of a benign character.

(Adenoma of the Mouse Pulmonary System, NCI Thesaurus/MMHCC)