Etymology : Middle English, from Latin correctus, past participle of corrigere, from com- + regere to lead straight; more at RIGHT
Pronunciation : k&-rekt
Function : transitive verb
Date : 14th century
1. make right; punish. right; accurate, exact; proper. correct\cor*rect"\ (kôr*r&ebreve;kt"), a. [l. correctus, p. p. of corrigere to make straight, to correct; cor- + regere to lead straight: cf. f. correct. see:
regular, right, and cf. escort.] set right, or made straight; hence, conformable to truth, rectitude, or propriety, or to a just standard; not faulty or imperfect; free from error; as, correct behavior; correct views. always use the most correct editions.
2. Set right, or made straight; hence, conformable to truth, rectitude, or propriety, or to a just standard; not faulty or imperfect; free from error; as, correct behavior; correct views.
3. To make right; to bring to the standard of truth, justice, or propriety; to rectify; as, to correct manners or principles.
4. To remove or retrench the faults or errors of; to amend; to set right; as, to correct the proof.
5. To bring back, or attempt to bring back, to propriety in morals; to reprove or punish for faults or deviations from moral rectitude; to chastise; to discipline; as, a child should be corrected for lying.
6. To counteract the qualities of one thing by those of another; said of whatever is wrong or injurious; as, to correct the acidity of the stomach by alkaline preparations. treat a defect; "The new contact lenses will correct for his myopia" make right or correct; "Correct the mistakes"; "rectify the calculation" free from error; especially conforming to fact or truth; "the correct answer"; "the correct version"; "the right answer"; "took the right road"; "the right decision" socially right or correct; "it isn't right to leave the party without saying goodbye"; "correct behavior" in accord with accepted standards of usage or procedure; "what's the right word for this?"; "the right way to open oysters".
7. 1. If something is correct, it is in accordance with the facts and has no mistakes. The correct answers can be found at the bottom of page 8 The following information was correct at time of going to press = right ¡Ù incorrect + correctly cor·rect·ly Did I pronounce your name correctly? + correctness cor·rect·ness Ask the investor to check the correctness of what he has written. = accuracy.
8. If someone is correct, what they have said or thought is true. You are absolutely correct. The leaves are from a bay tree If Casey is correct, the total cost of the cleanup would come to $110 billion. = right ¡Ù wrong.
9. The correct thing or method is the thing or method that is required or is most suitable in a particular situation. The use of the correct materials was crucial the correct way to produce a crop of tomato plants. = right + correctly cor·rect·ly If correctly executed, this shot will give them a better chance of getting the ball close to the hole. = properly.
10. If you say that someone is correct in doing something, you approve of their action. You are perfectly correct in trying to steer your mother towards increased independence I think the president was correct to reject the offer. = right + correctly cor·rect·ly When an accident happens, quite correctly questions are asked.
11. If you correct a problem, mistake, or fault, you do something which puts it right. He has criticised the government for inefficiency and delays in correcting past mistakes. = rectify + correction corrections cor·rec·tion legislation to require the correction of factual errors We will then make the necessary corrections.
12. If you correct someone, you say something which you think is more accurate or appropriate than what they have just said. `Actually, that isn't what happened,' George corrects me I must correct him on a minor point.
13. When someone corrects a piece of writing, they look at it and mark the mistakes in it. It took an extraordinary effort to focus on preparing his classes or correcting his students' work.
14. If a person or their behaviour is correct, their behaviour is in accordance with social or other rules. I think English men are very polite and very correct = proper + correctly cor·rect·ly The High Court of Parliament began very correctly with a prayer for the Queen. + correctness cor·rect·ness his stiff-legged gait and formal correctness.