| English Dictionary |
MODERN
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| IPA (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does Modern mean?
• MODERN (noun)
The noun MODERN has 2 senses:
1. a contemporary person
2. a typeface (based on an 18th century design by Gianbattista Bodoni) distinguished by regular shape and hairline serifs and heavy downstrokes
Familiarity information: MODERN used as a noun is rare.
• MODERN (adjective)
The adjective MODERN has 5 senses:
1. belonging to the modern era; since the Middle Ages
2. relating to a recently developed fashion or style
3. characteristic of present-day art and music and literature and architecture
4. ahead of the times
5. used of a living language; being the current stage in its development
Familiarity information: MODERN used as an adjective is common.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
A contemporary person
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Hypernyms ("modern" is a kind of...):
individual; mortal; person; somebody; someone; soul (a human being)
Derivation:
Modern (used of a living language; being the current stage in its development)
Sense 2
Meaning:
A typeface (based on an 18th century design by Gianbattista Bodoni) distinguished by regular shape and hairline serifs and heavy downstrokes
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Synonyms:
Bodoni; Bodoni font; modern; modern font
Hypernyms ("modern" is a kind of...):
proportional font (any font whose different characters have different widths)
Antonym:
old style (a typeface (based on an 18th century design) distinguished by irregularity and slanted ascender serifs and little contrast between light and heavy strokes)
| Declension: comparative and superlative |
Superlative: modernest
Sense 1
Meaning:
Belonging to the modern era; since the Middle Ages
Context example:
totem poles are modern rather than prehistoric
Similar:
contemporary; modern-day (characteristic of the present)
neo ((used as a combining form) recent or new)
red-brick; redbrick (of or relating to British universities founded in the late 19th century or the 20th century)
ultramodern (extremely modern)
moderne (of or relating to a popularization of art deco that used bright colors and rectangular shapes)
Also:
current (occurring in or belonging to the present time)
late (being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time)
new (not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered)
Attribute:
contemporaneity; contemporaneousness; modernism; modernity; modernness (the quality of being current or of the present)
Antonym:
nonmodern (not modern; of or characteristic of an earlier time)
Derivation:
modernity (the quality of being current or of the present)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Relating to a recently developed fashion or style
Synonyms:
mod; modern; modernistic
Context example:
tables in modernistic designs
Similar:
fashionable; stylish (being or in accordance with current social fashions)
Derivation:
modernity; modernness (the quality of being current or of the present)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Characteristic of present-day art and music and literature and architecture
Similar:
nonclassical (not classical)
Derivation:
modernity; modernness (the quality of being current or of the present)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Ahead of the times
Synonyms:
advanced; forward-looking; innovative; modern
Context example:
is British industry innovative enough?
Similar:
progressive (favoring or promoting progress)
Derivation:
modernity (the quality of being current or of the present)
Sense 5
Meaning:
Used of a living language; being the current stage in its development
Synonyms:
Modern; New
Context example:
New Hebrew is Israeli Hebrew
Similar:
late (of a later stage in the development of a language or literature; used especially of dead languages)
Domain category:
linguistics (the scientific study of language)
Derivation:
modern (a contemporary person)
modernness (the quality of being current or of the present)
Context examples
Scientists had previously used DNA from modern termites to estimate that termite fungus farming began 25 to 30 million years ago.
(Researchers discover oldest evidence of 'farming' by insects, NSF)
“And a greater because modern,” she added.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
“That is also quite modern,” said the lady.
(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
This place, Deep Dene House, is a big modern villa of staring brick, standing back in its own grounds, with a laurel-clumped lawn in front of it.
(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
If I don't sleep at once, chloral, the modern Morpheus! I must be careful not to let it grow into a habit. No, I shall take none to-night!
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
"So do I," added her husband, who welcomed the thought of a chance for trying the Socratic method of education on modern youth.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
Modern technology, distributed with or as a part of a drug product that allows for the uniform release or targeting of drugs to the body.
(Drug Delivery System, NCI Thesaurus)
Even with a modern rifle it would be all odds on the monster.
(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
"Studies like this help us learn about past events, and can help us understand the potential effects of modern climate shifts."
(Mass extinction of land and sea biodiversity 250 million years ago not simultaneous, National Science Foundation)
In modern days, Neptune is your ruler.
(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)
| Learn English with... Proverbs |
"Don't be afraid to cry. It will free your mind of sorrowful thoughts." (Native American proverb, Hopi)
"A book is like a garden carried in the pocket." (Arabic proverb)
"Pulled too far, a rope ends up breaking." (Corsican proverb)