[syn: nominal, titular]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Nominal \Nom"i*nal\, a. [L. nominalis, fr. nomen, nominis, name.
See Name.]
1. Of or pertaining to a name or names; having to do with the
literal meaning of a word; verbal; as, a nominal
definition. --Bp. Pearson.
[1913 Webster]
2. Existing in name only; not real; as, a nominal difference.
"Nominal attendance on lectures." --Macaulay.
[1913 Webster]
4. Hence: Insignificant; trifling; -- of prices or costs, as
compared with the benefits gained; as, to pay a nominal
sum for the data; a nominal fee.
[PJC]
3. Within acceptable limits; as expected; as, the hydraulic
lines are at nominal pressure; -- used mostly in aviation
and space operations.
[PJC]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Nominal \Nom"i*nal\, n.
1. A nominalist. [Obs.] --Camden.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Gram.) A verb formed from a noun.
[1913 Webster]
3. A name; an appellation.
[1913 Webster]
A is the nominal of the sixth note in the natural
diatonic scale. --Moore
(Encyc. of
Music. )
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
nominal
adj 1: relating to or constituting or bearing or giving a name;
"the Russian system of nominal brevity"; "a nominal lists
of priests"; "taxable males as revealed by the nominal
rolls"
2: insignificantly small; a matter of form only (`tokenish' is
informal); "the fee was nominal"; "a token gesture of
resistance"; "a toknenish gesture" [syn: nominal,
token(a), tokenish]
3: pertaining to a noun or to a word group that functions as a
noun; "nominal phrase"; "noun phrase"
4: of, relating to, or characteristic of an amount that is not
adjusted for inflation; "the nominal GDP"; "nominal interest
rates" [ant: real]
5: named; bearing the name of a specific person; "nominative
shares of stock" [syn: nominative, nominal]
6: existing in name only; "the nominal (or titular) head of his
party" [syn: nominal, titular]
n 1: a phrase that can function as the subject or object of a
verb [syn: noun phrase, nominal phrase, nominal]