ETYM Latin abstractus, p. p. of abstrahere to draw from, separate; ab, abs + trahere to draw. Related to Trace.
1. Based on specialized theory; SYN. theoretical.
/> 2. Dealing with a subject in the abstract without practical purpose or intention.
3. Existing only in the mind; separated from embodiment.
4. Not representing or imitating external reality or the objects of nature; SYN. abstractionist, nonfigurative, nonobjective.

ETYM Cf. French abstractif.
Of an abstracting nature or having the power of abstracting.

ETYM Latin academicus: cf. French académigue. Related to Academy.
1. Associated with academia or an academy.
2. Hypothetical or theoretical and not expected to produce an immediate or practical result.
3. Marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning especially its trivial aspects; SYN. donnish, pedantic.

ETYM Latin discretus, p. p. of discernere. Related to Discreet.
Separate; individual; identifiable as a unit. For example, bits are discrete elements of data processed by a computer.
Separate; composed of separable parts.
Constituting a separate entity or part; SYN. distinct.

ETYM Cf. French métaphysique. Related to Metaphysics.
1. Highly abstract and over-theoretical.
2. Pertaining to or of the nature of metaphysics.
3. Without material form or substance.

1. Not based on fact or investigation; SYN. speculative.
2. (Grammar) Having descriptive value as distinguished from syntactic category

In programming, a data set defined by the programmer in terms of the information it can contain and the operations that can be performed with it. An abstract data type is more generalized than a data type constrained by the properties of the objects it contains—for example, the data type “pet” is more generalized than the data types “pet dog,” “pet bird,” and “pet fish.” The standard example used in illustrating an abstract data type is the stack, a small portion of memory used to store information, generally on a temporary basis. As an abstract data type, the stack is simply a structure onto which values can be pushed (added) and from which they can be popped (removed). The type of value, such as integer, is irrelevant to the definition.The way in which the program performs operations on abstract data types is encapsulated, or hidden, from the rest of the program. Encapsulation enables the programmer to change the definition of the data type or its operations without introducing errors to the existing code that uses the abstract data type. Abstract data types represent an intermediate step between traditional programming and object-oriented programming. See also data type, object-oriented programming.