apposition

noun ap·po·si·tion \ˌa-pə-ˈzi-shən\

grammar : an arrangement of words in which a noun or noun phrase is followed by another noun or noun phrase that refers to the same thing

Full Definition of APPOSITION

a : a grammatical construction in which two usually adjacent nouns having the same referent stand in the same syntactical relation to the rest of a sentence (as the poet and Burns in “a biography of the poet Burns”)

b : the relation of one of such a pair of nouns or noun equivalents to the other

a : an act or instance of apposing; specifically : the deposition of successive layers upon those already present (as in cell walls)

b : the state of being apposed

— ap·po·si·tion·al \-ˈzish-nəl, -ˈzi-shə-n^əl\ adjective

See apposition defined for English-language learners

See apposition defined for kids

First Known Use of APPOSITION

15th century

Rhymes with APPOSITION

acoustician, acquisition, admonition, aesthetician, air-condition, ammunition, apparition, coalition, co-edition, competition, composition, cosmetician, decommission, decondition, definition, demolition, deposition, dietitian, disposition, disquisition, electrician, erudition, exhibition, expedition, exposition, extradition, first edition, imposition, in addition, inanition, in commission, inhibition, inquisition, intermission, intromission, intuition, linguistician, logistician, malnutrition, malposition, manumission, mathematician, mechanician, micturition, obstetrician, on commission, opposition, Ordovician, parturition, politician, precognition, precondition, premonition, preposition, proposition, recognition, recondition, repetition, requisition, rescue mission, rhetorician, self-ignition, statistician, submunition, superstition, supposition, text edition, trade edition, transposition

APPOSITION Defined for Kids

apposition

noun ap·po·si·tion \ˌa-pə-ˈzi-shən\

Definition of APPOSITION for Kids

: a grammatical construction in which a noun is followed by another that explains it <In “my friend the doctor,” the word “doctor” is in apposition with “friend.”>

Medical Dictionary

apposition

noun ap·po·si·tion \ˌap-ə-ˈzish-ən\

Medical Definition of APPOSITION

: the placing of things in juxtaposition or proximity; specifically : deposition of successive layers upon those already present (as in cell walls)—compare accretion, intussusception 2

: the state of being in juxtaposition or proximity (as in the drawing together of cut edges of tissue in healing)

—ap·pose \a-ˈpōz\ transitive verb, ap·posed ap·pos·ing