universal (n.)

  1. (linguistics) a grammatical rule (or other linguistic feature) that is found in all languages

    [ Syn: linguistic universal ]

  2. (logic) a proposition that asserts something of all members of a class

    [ Syn: universal proposition , universal proposition ]

  3. 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'

  4. 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

    [ Syn: universal joint ]

    universal (adj.)

  1. of worldwide scope or applicability; an issue of cosmopolitan import; the shrewdest political and ecumenical comment of our time- Christopher Morley; universal experience

    [ Syn: cosmopolitan , ecumenical , oecumenical , general , worldwide , world-wide ]

  2. 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'

  3. adapted to various purposes, sizes, forms, operations; universal wrench, universal chuck; universal screwdriver'

The dictionary is based on the WordNet Electronic Lexical Database.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2011 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.