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Meaning of POSTULATE

Pronunciation:  'pâschu`leyt

WordNet Dictionary
 
 Definition: 
  1. [n]  (logic) a proposition that is accepted as true in order to provide a basis for logical reasoning
  2. [v]  take as a given; assume as a postulate or axiom; "He posited three basic laws of nature"
  3. [v]  maintain or assert; "He contended that Communism had no future"
  4. [v]  require as useful, just, or proper; "It takes nerve to do what she did"; "success usually requires hard work"; "This job asks a lot of patience and skill"; "This position demands a lot of personal sacrifice"; "This dinner calls for a spectacular dessert"; "This intervention does not postulates a patient's consent"
 
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 Synonyms: ask, call for, contend, demand, involve, necessitate, need, posit, posit, require, take
 
 Antonyms: eliminate, obviate, rid of
 
 See Also: assert, assumption, claim, cost, cry for, cry out for, draw, govern, imply, insist, premise, premiss, presuppose, proposition

 

 

Webster's 1913 Dictionary
 
 Definition: 
  1. \Pos"tu*late\, n. [L. postulatum a demand, request,
    prop. p. p. of postulare to demand, prob. a dim. of poscere
    to demand, prob. for porcscere; akin to G. forschen to
    search, investigate, Skr. prach to ask, and L. precari to
    pray: cf. F. postulat. See {Pray}.]
    1. Something demanded or asserted; especially, a position or
       supposition assumed without proof, or one which is
       considered as self-evident; a truth to which assent may be
       demanded or challenged, without argument or evidence.
    2. (Geom.) The enunciation of a self-evident problem, in
       distinction from an axiom, which is the enunciation of a
       self-evident theorem.
             The distinction between a postulate and an axiom
             lies in this, -- that the latter is admitted to be
             self-evident, while the former may be agreed upon
             between two reasoners, and admitted by both, but not
             as proposition which it would be impossible to deny.
                                                   --Eng. Cyc.
    
  2. \Pos"tu*late\, a.
    Postulated. [Obs.] --Hudibras.
    
  3. \Pos"tu*late\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Postulated}; p.
    pr. & vb. n. {Postulating}.]
    1. To beg, or assume without proof; as, to postulate
       conclusions.
    2. To take without express consent; to assume.
             The Byzantine emperors appear to have . . .
             postulated a sort of paramount supremacy over this
             nation.                               --W. Tooke.
    3. To invite earnestly; to solicit. [Obs.] --Bp. Burnet.
    
 
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Thesaurus Terms
 
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