Definitions for: Demonstration


[n] a show or display; the act of presenting something to sight or view; "the presentation of new data"; "he gave the customer a demonstration"
[n] a show of military force or preparedness; "he confused the enemy with feints and demonstrations"
[n] a public display of group feelings (usually of a political nature); "there were violent demonstrations against the war"
[n] proof by a process of argument or a series of proposition proving an asserted conclusion
[n] a visual presentation showing how something works; "the lecture was accompanied by dramatic demonstrations"; "the lecturer shot off a pistol as a demonstration of the startle response"



Webster (1913) Definition: Dem`on*stra"tion, n. [L. demonstratio: cf. F.
d['e]monstration.]
1. The act of demonstrating; an exhibition; proof;
especially, proof beyond the possibility of doubt;
indubitable evidence, to the senses or reason.

Those intervening ideas which serve to show the
agreement of any two others are called ``proofs;''
and where agreement or disagreement is by this means
plainly and clearly perceived, it is called
demonstration. --Locke.

2. An expression, as of the feelings, by outward signs; a
manifestation; a show.

Did your letters pierce the queen to any
demonstration of grief? --Shak.

Loyal demonstrations toward the prince. --Prescott.

3. (Anat.) The exhibition and explanation of a dissection or
other anatomical preparation.

4. (Mil.) a decisive exhibition of force, or a movement
indicating an attack.

5. (Logic) The act of proving by the syllogistic process, or
the proof itself.

6. (Math.) A course of reasoning showing that a certain
result is a necessary consequence of assumed premises; --
these premises being definitions, axioms, and previously
established propositions.

Direct, or Positive, demonstration (Logic & Math.), one
in which the correct conclusion is the immediate sequence
of reasoning from axiomatic or established premises; --
opposed to

Indirect, or Negative, demonstration (called also
reductio ad absurdum), in which the correct conclusion
is an inference from the demonstration that any other
hypothesis must be incorrect.

Synonyms: demo, manifestation, monstrance, presentation, presentment

See Also: Boston Tea Party, display, dissent, exemplification, exhibition, exposure, expression, illustration, lecture demonstration, manifestation, objection, performance, proof, protest, protest march, reflection, reflexion, show, show, visual communication, work-in

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