function

Etymology

From Middle French function, from Old French fonction, from Latin functiō (“performance, execution”), from functus, perfect participle of fungor (“to perform, execute, discharge”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰewg- (“to enjoy”).

noun

1. What something does or is used for.
   Many genes with reproductive roles also have antibacterial and immune functions, which indicate that the threat of microbial attack on the sperm or egg may be a major influence on rapid evolution during reproduction. 2013 May-June, Katrina G. Claw, “Rapid Evolution in Eggs and Sperm”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3
2. A professional or official position.
3. An official or social occasion.
   Our hotel is hosting a function for all the warehouse workers on the night of April 18.
   1. (slang) A party.
4. Something which is dependent on or stems from another thing; a result or concomitant.
   Though most of the cases here cover European encounters with non-Europeans, it is not the intention of the book to give the impression that genocide is a function of European colonialism and imperialism alone. 1 June 2008, A. Dirk Moses, “Preface”, in Empire, Colony, Genocide: Conquest, Occupation, and Subaltern Resistance in World History, Berghahn Books, page x
5. A relation where one thing is dependent on another for its existence, value, or significance.
6. (mathematics) A relation in which each element of the domain is associated with exactly one element of the codomain.
7. (computing) A routine that receives zero or more arguments and may return a result.
8. (biology) The physiological activity of an organ or body part.
9. (chemistry) The characteristic behavior of a chemical compound.
10. (anthropology) The role of a social practice in the continued existence of the group.

verb

1. (intransitive) To have a function.
2. (intransitive) To carry out a function; to be in action.