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external

adj, noun — 14 senses

external

adj

UK /ɪkˈstɜː.nəl/ · CA, US /ɛkˈstɜɹ.nəl/

Etymology From Late Middle English, from Medieval Latin externus (“outward, external”), from exter/exterus (“on the outside, outward”).

11 senses
  1. 1Outside of something; on the exterior.
  2. 2Situated near or toward the surface of the body.
  3. 3Relating to or denoting a medicine or similar substance…
  4. 4Having merely the outward appearance of something.
  5. 5Not intrinsic or essential.
  6. 6Provided by something or someone outside of the entity…
  7. 7Relating to or connected with foreign nations or institutions.
  8. 8Having existence independent of the mind.
  9. 9For or concerning students registered with and taking…
  10. 10Not contained in the main computer.
  11. 11Using a disk or tape drive rather than the main memory.
1

Outside of something; on the exterior.

  • This building has some external pipework.
  • Her virtues graced with external gifts.1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene v]:
1 more example
  • Of all external things, […] / She [Fancy] forms imaginations, aery shapes.1667, John Milton, “Book V”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
2

Anatomy, Medicine, Sciences Situated near or toward the surface of the body.

3

Medicine, Pharmacology, Sciences Relational Relating to or denoting a medicine or similar substance for use on the outside of the body.

› Capable of being perceived outwardly.

4

Having merely the outward appearance of something.

5

Not intrinsic or essential.

  • The external circumstances are greatly different.1850, Richard Chenevix Trench, Notes on the Miracles of Our Lord:
6

Provided by something or someone outside of the entity (object, group, company etc.) considered.

  • external authority, external force
7

Relating to or connected with foreign nations or institutions.

  • external trade or commerce; the external relations of a state or kingdom
8

Having existence independent of the mind.

  • external reality
9

Education For or concerning students registered with and taking the examinations of a university but not resident there.

  • external degrees
10

Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Sciences Of a hardware Not contained in the main computer.

11

Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Sciences Of storage Using a disk or tape drive rather than the main memory.

Antonyms
internal
Derived terms
38 termsanteroexternal, dorsoexternal, external acoustic meatus, external auditory canal, external auditory meatus, external carotid artery, external cause, external condom, external conflict, external coupling, external ear, external examiner, external fertilization, external genitalia, external hemorrhoid, external iliac artery, externalism, externalist, externalistic, externality, externalization, externalize, externalise, external link, externally, external maxillary artery, externalness, external oblique, external oblique muscle, external risk, external sandhi, external stimulus, external urethral orifice, external world, extimate, nonexternal, posteroexternal, semiexternal

external

noun

Etymology From Late Middle English, from Medieval Latin externus (“outward, external”), from exter/exterus (“on the outside, outward”).

› The exterior; outward features or appearances.

1

Plural normally Inessential or superficial features.

  • To a non-Christian who has never experienced but only observed the externals of Christianity, it appears to be merely another spiritual system, but to a person who has left one of the other religions and embraced the Christian faith, it is most definitely The Way, and all else pales to insignificance.1979 December 22, S. J. Harris, “Life And Spirit”, in Gay Community News, volume 2, number 22, page 5:
2

Plural normally Outward appearance.

  • They had been such declared, such personal enemies, that, even in a court, it seemed wonderful how a decent external could be given to their reconciliation.1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XXV, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume I, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 298:
  • He was indeed a creature who by externals at all events had more in common with another genus than with that humanity among which fate had cast him, and his familiar nickname of "The Toad" crudely indicated what that species might be.1934, Ernest Bramah, The Bravo of London:
3

Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Programming, Sciences In the C language A variable that is defined in the source code but whose value comes from some external source.

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.