Entities: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• The word 'entities' comes from the Latin 'entitas', meaning 'being' or 'existence'.
• In the late medieval period, the term began to refer to things in philosophy and metaphysics.
• Its usage became more common in English literature during the 15th century.

Philosophy

• Entities are often discussed in philosophy to understand what it means for something to 'exist'.
• A famous debate among philosophers is whether abstract objects like numbers are considered entities.
• The question 'What is an entity?' leads to discussions about the nature of reality and existence.

Mathematics

• In mathematics, entities can refer to numbers, points, lines, and shapes that have distinct properties.
• Set theory categorizes entities into groups based on shared characteristics.
• Geometric entities can include angles, circles, and triangles, each defined by unique attributes.

Computer Science

• In databases, an entity represents a real-world object or concept, often used in data modeling.
• Object-oriented programming treats entities as objects that have properties (attributes) and behaviors (methods).
• An Entity-Relationship model helps visualize how different entities interact within a system.

Science

• In biology, entities can refer to living organisms, from single-celled bacteria to complex mammals.
• The concept also extends to ecological entities, representing populations and ecosystems as distinct units.
• In physics, entities might refer to particles or waves, each existing and interacting in their own ways.

With rank #4,476, this word represents useful upper-intermediate vocabulary. Understanding and using it will help you express more complex ideas effectively.

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