parse
(pärs)
KEY
VERB:
parsed
,
pars·ing
,
pars·es
VERB:
tr.
- To break (a sentence) down into its component parts of speech with an explanation of the form, function, and syntactical relationship of each part.
- To describe (a word) by stating its part of speech, form, and syntactical relationships in a sentence.
-
- To examine closely or subject to detailed analysis, especially by breaking up into components:
"What are we missing by parsing the behavior of chimpanzees into the conventional categories recognized largely from our own behavior?"
(Stephen Jay Gould).
- To make sense of; comprehend:
I simply couldn't parse what you just said.
-
Computer Science
To analyze or separate (input, for example) into more easily processed components.
VERB:
intr.
- To admit of being parsed:
sentences that do not parse easily.
ETYMOLOGY:
Probably from Middle English
pars,
part of speech, from Latin
pars (
r
tinis),
part (of speech); see
per
-
2 in Indo-European roots
OTHER FORMS:
pars
er
(Noun)
