Understanding the Meaning of Abstract According to the Dictionary, Also Learn Its Definition in the World of Art and Research

Kapanlagi.com - The word or term abstract is certainly not unfamiliar to us. Because, we often hear the word abstract on various occasions. The word abstract is also often followed by other words, such as research abstract, abstract painting, and so on. So, what is the true meaning of abstract?

Yes, abstract is indeed one of the Indonesian vocabulary. However, abstract is not classified as a word that is commonly used in everyday conversation by the general public. Therefore, even though it may sound familiar, in fact, there are still many people who do not know the meaning of abstract.

If you are one of those who do not know the meaning of the word abstract, don't worry. Summarized from various sources, here is a brief review of the true meaning of abstract.

1. The Meaning of Abstract According to the Dictionary

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The word 'abstrak' in Indonesian is believed to be borrowed from the English word 'abstract'. According to the online dictionary.cambridge.org, the meaning of 'abstrak' or 'abstract' (in English) is an idea, feeling, or quality, not as a material object. Therefore, abstract is something that is not tangible.

The word 'abstract' in English was then absorbed and adapted to become 'abstrak'. In the Indonesian Dictionary (KBBI), the meaning of 'abstrak' is not much different from the meaning in English. However, further in the KBBI, the meaning of 'abstrak' is explained to have two meanings.

First, the meaning of 'abstrak' in KBBI is something that is intangible; shapeless; immaterial. Related to this explanation, the word 'abstrak' is classified as an adjective. Meanwhile, the second meaning of 'abstrak' in KBBI is summary, essay, report, summary, essence, and so on. Therefore, in the second meaning, the word 'abstrak' is included in the class of nouns.

2. Abstrak in the Context of Art

As explained earlier, the meaning of 'abstrak' is closely related to the world of art. In this regard, we are familiar with abstract painting. Basically, the term abstract painting refers to works of art that do not refer to an object.

This is according to Meike Sutanto's opinion that abstract art is a work of art with lines, shapes, and colors that are free or not bound by the forms of various objects in the universe.

Therefore, the meaning of 'abstrak', especially in the field of painting, sometimes looks more like strokes and colors that still look beautiful. However, because it is in the form of strokes, the beauty of abstract paintings is not something that is easy to describe.

Interpretations of abstract paintings and works of art are based on feelings. Because, abstract art is the result of the artist's expression as its creator. Therefore, it is very reasonable if only the artist truly understands the value contained in abstract art.

3. Characteristics of Abstract Art

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In art, the meaning of 'abstrak' is closely related to painting. Therefore, in addition to knowing the meaning of 'abstrak' in the field of art, it is also important to know the characteristics of works of art, especially paintings, that have an abstract style. Because, knowledge of these characteristics can help in interpreting a work of art. Here are some characteristics of abstract art.

- Has a form of object that is difficult or even impossible to recognize.

- Purely from the artist's imagination.

- Uses a unique combination of colors, different from other works, but still harmonious.

4. Understanding Abstract in Scientific Works

Besides being related to the world of art, abstraction is also closely related to the world of research and knowledge. In fact, abstraction is one of the important parts in a scientific work such as journals, theses, dissertations, and so on. In this regard, there are several explanations of the meaning of abstraction, here are some of them.

According to the International Standard Organization (ISO), an abstract is a brief and accurate explanation containing the essence of a document, without any additional interpretation or critique. Therefore, an abstract must be written as objectively as possible.

Then, the American National Standards Institute's explains that an abstract is a brief and accurate statement without any interpretation or critique. The abstract is also made generally, not specifically for certain groups.

An expert named Frederick Wilfrid Lancaster also explains the meaning of abstraction in the field of research. According to him, an abstract is a concise representation but has accuracy of the contents of a document.

5. Elements of Abstraction in Scientific Work

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After knowing the meaning of abstraction in research, we know that abstraction is an important thing. Therefore, making an abstract cannot be done carelessly. At least, there are several elements that must be fulfilled when making an abstract for research. Here are some of the elements of abstraction.

- The abstract must be made with logical argumentation based on observation, and made with the aim of solving a problem.

- The abstract must also contain elements of the method or scientific approach used to solve a problem.

- The abstract must also contain elements of the results achieved. These results can be conclusions that can be drawn from the scientific work that has been compiled.

- The abstract must also contain simple, concise, but still clear and easy to understand elements.

Those are some explanations of the meaning of abstraction in art and research. Hopefully useful and can add insight!

(kpl/gen/psp)