English adjective: universal | |||
1. | universal of worldwide scope or applicability | ||
Samples | An issue of cosmopolitan import. The shrewdest political and ecumenical comment of our time. Universal experience. | ||
Synonyms | cosmopolitan, ecumenical, general, oecumenical, world-wide, worldwide | ||
Similar | comprehensive | ||
Antonyms | incomprehensive, noncomprehensive | ||
2. | universal applicable to or common to all members of a group or set | ||
Samples | The play opened to universal acclaim. Rap enjoys universal appeal among teenage boys. | ||
Similar | general | ||
Antonyms | specific | ||
3. | universal adapted to various purposes, sizes, forms, operations | ||
Samples | Universal wrench. Universal chuck. Universal screwdriver. | ||
Similar | adaptable | ||
Antonyms | unadaptable | ||
English noun: universal | |||
1. | universal (communication) (linguistics) a grammatical rule (or other linguistic feature) that is found in all languages | ||
Synonyms | linguistic universal | ||
Broader (hypernym) | linguistic rule, rule | ||
Domain category | linguistics | ||
2. | universal (communication) (logic) a proposition that asserts something of all members of a class | ||
Synonyms | universal proposition | ||
Broader (hypernym) | proposition | ||
Domain category | logic | ||
Antonyms | particular proposition, particular | ||
3. | universal (cognition) a behavioral convention or pattern characteristic of all members of a particular culture or of all human beings | ||
Samples | Some form of religion seems to be a human universal. | ||
Broader (hypernym) | convention, formula, normal, pattern, rule | ||
4. | universal (artifact) coupling that connects two rotating shafts allowing freedom of movement in all directions | ||
Samples | In motor vehicles a universal joint allows the driveshaft to move up and down as the vehicle passes over bumps. | ||
Synonyms | universal joint | ||
Broader (hypernym) | coupler, coupling | ||
Part meronym | drive line, drive line system | ||