principle */*/*/

principle */*/*/
UK [ˈprɪnsəp(ə)l] / US noun
Word forms "principle":
singular principle plural principles
1)
a) [countable] a basic belief, theory, or rule that has a major influence on the way in which something is done

Excellent customer service should be our guiding principle.

principle of:

It is a basic principle of English law that a person is innocent until proven guilty.

principle that:

the principle that education should be free to everyone

b) [often plural] one of the major ideas or theories that a system of beliefs is based on, for example in religion or politics

Marxist/Buddhist/democratic principles

the principles and ideals that the party stands for

2)
a) [countable, usually plural] a basic rule or belief about what is right and morally good, that influences the way that you behave and the way that you treat other people

He seems to have absolutely no principles.

against someone's principles:

It was against their principles to join the armed forces.

stick to/stand by your principles:

Bennett stuck to his principles, and refused to name the source of his information.

b) [uncountable] morally correct behaviour

a woman of principle

on principle:

We are opposed on principle to any collaboration with terrorists.

a point/matter/issue of principle:

There are some basic issues of principle relating to the debate about abortion.

3) [countable] a scientific theory or basic natural law that explains the way in which something works

Windmills differ in design, but all operate on exactly the same principle.

Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle

principle of:

It was Darwin who first identified the "principle of female choice".

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English dictionary. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

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  • principle — principle, axiom, fundamental, law, theorem are comparable when they denote a proposition or other formulation stating a fact or a generalization accepted as true and basic. Principle applies to a generalization that provides a basis for… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Principle — Prin ci*ple, n. [F. principe, L. principium beginning, foundation, fr. princeps, cipis. See {Prince}.] 1. Beginning; commencement. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Doubting sad end of principle unsound. Spenser. [1913 Webster] 2. A source, or origin; that… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • principle — I (axiom) noun accepted belief, adage, admitted maxim, article of belief, article of faith, assertion, assurance, basic doctrine, basic law, basic rule, basic truth, belief, canon, conviction, credo, declaration of faith, decretum, doctrine,… …   Law dictionary

  • principle — [prin′sə pəl] n. [ME, altered < MFr principe < L principium: see PRINCIPIUM] 1. the ultimate source, origin, or cause of something 2. a natural or original tendency, faculty, or endowment 3. a fundamental truth, law, doctrine, or motivating …   English World dictionary

  • principle — ► NOUN 1) a fundamental truth or proposition serving as the foundation for belief or action. 2) a rule or belief governing one s personal behaviour. 3) morally correct behaviour and attitudes. 4) a general scientific theorem or natural law. 5) a… …   English terms dictionary

  • principle — late 14c., fundamental truth or proposition, from Anglo Fr. principle, O.Fr. principe, from L. principium (plural principia) a beginning, first part, from princeps (see PRINCE (Cf. prince)). Meaning origin, source is attested from early 15c.… …   Etymology dictionary

  • principle — [n1] law, standard assumption, axiom, basis, canon, convention, criterion, dictum, doctrine, dogma, ethic, form, formula, foundation, fundamental, golden rule*, ground, maxim, origin, postulate, precept, prescript, principium, proposition,… …   New thesaurus

  • Principle — Prin ci*ple, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Principled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Principling}.] To equip with principles; to establish, or fix, in certain principles; to impress with any tenet, or rule of conduct, good or ill. [1913 Webster] Governors should be… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • principle — /prin seuh peuhl/, n. 1. an accepted or professed rule of action or conduct: a person of good moral principles. 2. a fundamental, primary, or general law or truth from which others are derived: the principles of modern physics. 3. a fundamental… …   Universalium

  • principle — noun 1 basic general rule ADJECTIVE ▪ basic, broad, central, fundamental, general, underlying ▪ the basic principles of car maintenance ▪ b …   Collocations dictionary

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