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postulate

pos·tu·late

postulate

 
 
pronunciation:
pas ch leIt
parts of speech:
transitive verb, noun
features:
Word Combinations (verb, noun), Grammatical Patterns
part of speech: transitive verb
inflections: postulates, postulating, postulated
definition 1: to assert as something true, esp. as a basis for reasoning.
If we postulate that early humans had this knowledge, then it seems likely that they would have developed tools to take advantage of it.[verb + (that) + clause ]
synonyms:
hypothesize, theorize
similar words:
conjecture, guess, posit, speculate, suppose, surmise, venture
definition 2: to assume as a basic premise; treat as a given.
synonyms:
assume, predicate, presume, suppose, take
similar words:
believe, conjecture, gather, guess, infer, posit, premise, surmise
definition 3: to put forth a claim or request for; demand.
synonyms:
claim, demand
similar words:
ask, petition, plead, request, solicit, urge
Word Combinations  About this feature
adverb + (v.)postulate directly, previously, specifically
(v.)postulate + adverb above, indeed
(v.)postulate + nounHelp adolescent, athlete, basis, cause, characteristic, connection, dimension, effect, entity, existence, explanation, frequency, human, mechanism, metathesis, object, outcome, parallel, particle, personality, planet, proportion, quantum, reader, separation, transition, universe, variable [See all][See only the most frequent]
 
part of speech: noun
definition 1: something that is accepted without proof as the basis of a rational argument.
synonyms:
axiom, fundamental, hypothesis, presumption
similar words:
assumption, premise, proposition, theory, truism
definition 2: a primary or fundamental principle.
synonyms:
axiom, basis, fundamental, truth
similar words:
foundation, premise, principle, theory
definition 3: in mathematics and logic, a proposition that is assumed to be true and is used to prove other propositions; axiom.
One of the basic postulates of geometry is that, through any two points, one and only one line can be drawn.
synonyms:
axiom
similar words:
proposition, theorem
definition 4: a requirement; prerequisite.
synonyms:
condition, prerequisite, requirement
similar words:
desideratum, essential, imperative, necessity, need, provision
Word Combinations  About this feature
adjective + (n.)postulate absolute, african, basic, causal, central, consistent, critical, essential, explanatory, following, fundamental, juridical, linguistic, mere, newtonian, original, parallel, particular, philosophical, scientific, tacit, theoretical  [See all][See only the most frequent]
verb + (n.)postulate accord, assume, base, challenge, discover, explain, extend, hold, increase, obey, relate, support
noun + (n.)postulate Help capitalism, concept, contrast, culture, doctrine, english, equation, faith, gain, increase, individual, learning, master, pluralism, premise, relativity, theory, thinking
derivations: postulational (adj.), postulation (n.)