universal

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u·ni·ver·sal

(yo͞o′nə-vûr′səl)

adj.

1. Of, relating to, or affecting the entire universe: the universal laws of physics.

2. Including, relating to, or affecting all members of the class or group under consideration; applicable in all cases: universal vaccination; universal suffrage. See Synonyms at general.

3. Done, produced, or shared by all members of the class or group under consideration: a discovery that met with universal acclaim.

4. Adapted or adjustable to many sizes, uses, or devices: a universal remote control.

5. Logic Encompassing all of the members of a class or group. Used of a proposition.

1. Logic

a. A universal proposition.

b. A general or abstract concept or term considered absolute or axiomatic.

2. A general or widely held principle, concept, or notion.

3. A trait or pattern of behavior characteristic of all the members of a particular culture or of all humans.

u′ni·ver′sal·ly adv.

u′ni·ver′sal·ness n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

universal

(ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsəl)

adj

1. of, relating to, or typical of the whole of mankind or of nature

2. common to, involving, or proceeding from all in a particular group

3. applicable to or affecting many individuals, conditions, or cases; general

4. existing or prevailing everywhere

5. applicable or occurring throughout or relating to the universe; cosmic: a universal constant.

6. (Linguistics) (esp of a language) capable of being used and understood by all

7. embracing or versed in many fields of knowledge, activity, interest, etc

8. (Mechanical Engineering) machinery designed or adapted for a range of sizes, fittings, or uses

9. (Linguistics) linguistics (of a constraint in a formal grammar) common to the grammatical description of all human languages, actual or possible

10. (Logic) logic (of a statement or proposition) affirming or denying something about every member of a class, as in all men are wicked. Compare particular⁶

11. (Philosophy) philosophy

a. a general term or concept or the type such a term signifies

b. a metaphysical entity taken to be the reference of a general term, as distinct from the class of individuals it describes. See also realism⁵

c. a Platonic Idea or Aristotelian form

12. (Logic) logic

a. a universal proposition, statement, or formula

b. a universal quantifier

13. a characteristic common to every member of a particular culture or to every human being

14. (Mechanical Engineering) short for universal joint

ˌuniˈversalness n

Usage: The use of more universal as in his writings have long been admired by fellow scientists, but his latest book should have more universal appeal is acceptable in modern English usage

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

u•ni•ver•sal

(ˌyu nəˈvɜr səl)

adj.

1. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of all or the whole.

2. applicable everywhere or in all cases: a universal cure.

3. affecting, concerning, or involving all: universal military service.

4. used or understood by all: a universal language.

5. present or existing everywhere.

6. versed in or embracing many or all skills, branches of learning, etc.

7. of or pertaining to the universe, all nature, or all existing things.

8. Logic. (of a proposition) asserted of every member of a class.

9. noting any of various machines, tools, or devices widely adaptable in position, range of use, etc.

10. a cultural pattern or trait found in every known society or common to all members of a particular culture.

11. Logic. a universal proposition.

12. Philos.

a. a general term or concept or the generic nature that such a term signifies; a Platonic idea or Aristotelian form.

b. an entity that remains unchanged in character in a series of changes or changing relations.

13. a trait or property of language that can exist in all languages.

14. universal joint.

[1325–75; Middle English < Middle French < Latin ūniversālis. See universe]

u`ni•ver′sal•ly, adv.

u`ni•ver′sal•ness, n.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	universal - (linguistics) a grammatical rule (or other linguistic feature) that is found in all languages linguistic universal linguistics - the scientific study of language linguistic rule, rule - (linguistics) a rule describing (or prescribing) a linguistic practice
	2.	universal - (logic) a proposition that asserts something of all members of a class universal proposition logic - the branch of philosophy that analyzes inference proposition - (logic) a statement that affirms or denies something and is either true or false particular proposition, particular - (logic) a proposition that asserts something about some (but not all) members of a class
	3.	universal - a behavioral convention or pattern characteristic of all members of a particular culture or of all human beings; "some form of religion seems to be a human universal" normal, convention, rule, pattern, formula - something regarded as a normative example; "the convention of not naming the main character"; "violence is the rule not the exception"; "his formula for impressing visitors"
	4.	universal - coupling that connects two rotating shafts allowing freedom of movement in all directions; "in motor vehicles a universal joint allows the driveshaft to move up and down as the vehicle passes over bumps" universal joint coupler, coupling - a mechanical device that serves to connect the ends of adjacent objects drive line, drive line system - mechanism that transmits power from the engine to the driving wheels of a motor vehicle
Adj.	1.	universal - of worldwide scope or applicability; "an issue of cosmopolitan import"; "the shrewdest political and ecumenical comment of our time"- Christopher Morley; "universal experience" ecumenical, oecumenical, worldwide, world-wide, cosmopolitan, general comprehensive - including all or everything; "comprehensive coverage"; "a comprehensive history of the revolution"; "a comprehensive survey"; "a comprehensive education"
	2.	universal - applicable to or common to all members of a group or set; "the play opened to universal acclaim"; "rap enjoys universal appeal among teenage boys" general - applying to all or most members of a category or group; "the general public"; "general assistance"; "a general rule"; "in general terms"; "comprehensible to the general reader"
	3.	universal - adapted to various purposes, sizes, forms, operations; "universal wrench", "universal chuck"; "universal screwdriver" adaptable - capable of adapting (of becoming or being made suitable) to a particular situation or use; "to succeed one must be adaptable"; "the frame was adaptable to cloth bolts of different widths"

universal

adjective

1. widespread, general, common, whole, total, entire, catholic, unlimited, ecumenical, omnipresent, all-embracing, overarching proposals for universal health care

2. global, worldwide, international, pandemic universal diseases

Usage: The use of more universal as in his writings have long been admired by fellow scientists, but his latest book should have more universal appeal is acceptable in modern English usage.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

universal

adjective

1. So pervasive and all-inclusive as to exist in or affect the whole world:

catholic, cosmic, cosmopolitan, ecumenical, global, pandemic, planetary, worldwide.

2. Ever present in all places:

omnipresent, ubiquitous.

3. Belonging or relating to the whole:

common, general, generic.

noun

A broad and basic rule or truth:

axiom, fundamental, law, principle, theorem.

Translations

كَوْني، عالَمي

univerzálnívšestranný

almenuniversel

allgemein global

universal

universel

egyetemes

alòjóîlegur

universale

enerådende universell

универсальный

splošenuniverzalen

evrensel genel

全世界的全体的

universal

[ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsəl]

A. ADJ

1. (= general) [agreement, acceptance] → general, global
the closures met with universal condemnation → los cierres provocaron la condena general or unánime
its use has been universal since 1900 → se usa en todas partes or globalmente desde 1900
her writing has universal appeal → su forma de escribir atrae a todo el mundo
a universal truth → una verdad universal, una verdad aceptada por todos or por todo el mundo
to become universal → generalizarse

2. (= worldwide) [law, language] → universal
the threat of universal destruction → la amenaza de la destrucción mundial

B. CPD universal donor N → donante mf universal
universal joint N (Tech) → junta f cardán or universal
universal product code N (US) → código m de barras
universal suffrage N → sufragio m universal

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

universal

[ˌjuːniˈvɜː^rs^əl] adj [truth, experiences, access, themes] → universel(le); [approval, acclaim] → unanime
to have universal appeal → plaire à tout le monde
to be of universal interest → intéresser tout le monde
a topic of universal interest → un sujet qui intéresse tout le monde
universal health care → services mpl de santé pour tous
universal suffrage → suffrage m universel

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

universal

adj

phenomenon, applicability, remedy → universal, universell; (= prevailing everywhere) custom, game → allgemein or überall verbreitet; (= applying to all) truth, rule → allgemeingültig, universell; (= general) approval, peace → allgemein; universal education → Allgemeinbildung f; universal language → Weltsprache f; universal peace → Weltfrieden m; universal remedy → Allheilmittel nt; to be a universal favourite → überall beliebt sein; to become universal → allgemein verbreitet werden

(Logic) → universal, universell, allgemein

n (Philos) → Allgemeinbegriff m; (Logic: = universal proposition) → Universalaussage f; the universal → das Allgemeine; the various universals of human experience → die verschiedenen Grundelemente menschlicher Erfahrung

universal

universal coupling

n = universal joint

universal donor

n → Universalspender(in) m(f)

universal

Universal Postal Union

n → Weltpostverein m

universal product code

n (US: = bar code) → Barkode m

universal suffrage

n → allgemeines Wahlrecht

universal time

n → Weltzeit f

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

universal

[ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːs/əl] adj (phenomenon, disapproval) → generale; (language, values) → universale
a universal favourite → un/a gran favorito/a

universe

(ˈjuːnivəːs) noun

everything – earth, planets, sun, stars etc – that exists anywhere. Somewhere in the universe there must be another world like ours.

ˌuniˈversal adjective

affecting, including etc the whole of the world or all or most people. English may become a universal language that everyone can learn and use.

ˌuniˈversally adverb

ˌuniverˈsality (-ˈsӕ-) noun

universal

a. universal, general, global, mundial;

___ antidote → antídoto ___.

universal

adj universal

References in classic literature ?

Writers of universal history who deal with all the nations seem to recognize how erroneous is the specialist historians' view of the force which produces events.

View in context

All that is inferable from language is that two instances of a universal, even when they differ very greatly, may cause the utterance of two instances of the same word which only differ very slightly.

View in context

"Will you not stop and congratulate the Dog on the reign of universal peace?"

View in context

Poetry, therefore, is a more philosophical and a higher thing than history: for poetry tends to express the universal, history the particular.

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Distinction between the sterility of first crosses and of hybrids -- Sterility various in degree, not universal, affected by close interbreeding, removed by domestication -- Laws governing the sterility of hybrids -- Sterility not a special endowment, but incidental on other differences -- Causes of the sterility of first crosses and of hybrids -- Parallelism between the effects of changed conditions of life and crossing -- Fertility of varieties when crossed and of their mongrel offspring not universal -- Hybrids and mongrels compared independently of their fertility -- Summary.

View in context

Even in the households of the Circles, the Women were all in favour of the Universal Colour Bill.

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but happiest, beyond all comparison, are those excellent STRULDBRUGS, who, being born exempt from that universal calamity of human nature, have their minds free and disengaged, without the weight and depression of spirits caused by the continual apprehensions of death!" I discovered my admiration that I had not observed any of these illustrious persons at court; the black spot on the forehead being so remarkable a distinction, that I could not have easily overlooked it: and it was impossible that his majesty, a most judicious prince, should not provide himself with a good number of such wise and able counsellors.

View in context

I've seen death as often as most folk, but universal death--it's awful!"

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He finds that the poet was no odd fellow who described strange and impossible situations, but that universal man wrote by his pen a confession true for one and true for all.

View in context

How often we forget all time, when lone Admiring Nature's universal throne; Her woods--her wilds--her mountains-the intense Reply of Hers to Our intelligence!

View in context

"Be good enough to lie still while I walk upon you, singing the praises of universal suffrage and descanting upon the blessings of civil and religious liberty.

View in context

Yet there is one little trait in the description which shows that they are present to Plato's mind, namely, the remark that the soul, which had seen truths in the form of the universal, cannot again return to the nature of an animal.