determine Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study
    find out; find; ascertain.
    • find the product of two numbers
    • The physicist who found the elusive particle won the Nobel Prize
  2. verb shape or influence; give direction to
    influence; shape; regulate; mold.
    • experience often determines ability
    • mold public opinion
  3. verb fix conclusively or authoritatively
    set.
    • set the rules
  4. verb decide upon or fix definitely
    set; fix; limit; specify; define.
    • fix the variables
    • specify the parameters
  5. verb reach, make, or come to a decision about something
    make up one's mind; decide.
    • We finally decided after lengthy deliberations
  6. verb fix in scope; fix the boundaries of
    • the tree determines the border of the property
  7. verb settle conclusively; come to terms
    settle; square off; square up.
    • We finally settled the argument
  8. verb find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by making an inquiry or other effort
    learn; watch; see; ascertain; find out; check.
    • I want to see whether she speaks French
    • See whether it works
    • find out if he speaks Russian
    • Check whether the train leaves on time

WordNet

De*ter"mine transitive verb
Etymology
F. déterminer, L. determinare, determinatum; de + terminare limit, terminus limit. See Term.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Determined ; present participle & verbal noun Determining
Definitions
  1. To fix the boundaries of; to mark off and separate.
    [God] hath determined the times before appointed. Acts xvii. 26.
  2. To set bounds to; to fix the determination of; to limit; to bound; to bring to an end; to finish.
    The knowledge of men hitherto hath been determined by the view or sight. Bacon.
    Now, where is he that will not stay so long Till his friend sickness hath determined me? Shak.
  3. To fix the form or character of; to shape; to prescribe imperatively; to regulate; to settle.
    The character of the soul is determined by the character of its God. J. Edwards.
    Something divinely beautiful . . . that at some time or other might influence or even determine her course of life. W. Black.
  4. To fix the course of; to impel and direct; -- with a remoter object preceded by to; as, another's will determined me to this course.
  5. To ascertain definitely; to find out the specific character or name of; to assign to its true place in a system; as, to determine an unknown or a newly discovered plant or its name.
  6. To bring to a conclusion, as a question or controversy; to settle authoritative or judicial sentence; to decide; as, the court has determined the cause.
  7. To resolve on; to have a fixed intention of; also, to cause to come to a conclusion or decision; to lead; as, this determined him to go immediately.
  8. (Logic) To define or limit by adding a differentia.
  9. (Physical Sciences) To ascertain the presence, quantity, or amount of; as, to determine the parallax; to determine the salt in sea water.
De*ter"mine intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To come to an end; to end; to terminate. Obs.
    He who has vented a pernicious doctrine or published an ill book must know that his life determine not together. South.
    Estates may determine on future contingencies. Blackstone.
  2. To come to a decision; to decide; to resolve; -- often with on. "Determine on some course." Shak.
    He shall pay as the judges determine. Ex. xxi. 22.

Webster 1913