Exact

Pronunciation

IPA: /ÉªÉ¡ËˆzÃ¦kt/
Rhymes: -Ã¦kt

Origin

From Old French, from Medieval Latin exactare, reg., from Latin exactus, perfect passive participle of exigÅ ("demand, claim as due" or "measure by a standard, weigh, test"), from ex ("out") + agÅ ("drive").

Full definition of exact

Adjective

exact

Precisely agreeing with a standard, a fact, or the truth; perfectly conforming; neither exceeding nor falling short in any respect.
The clock keeps exact time.
He paid the exact debt.
an exact copy of a letter
exact accounts
Habitually careful to agree with a standard, a rule, or a promise; accurate; methodical; punctual.
a man exact in observing an appointment
In my doings I was exact.

John Milton (1608-1674)I see thou art exact of taste.
1661, John Fell, The Life of the most learned, reverend and pious Dr. H. HammondDuring the whole time of his abode in the university he generally spent thirteen hours of the day in study; by which assiduity besides an exact dispatch of the whole course of philosophy, he read over in a manner all classic authors that are extant...

Precisely or definitely conceived or stated; strict.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616)An exact command,
Larded with many several sorts of reason.

(algebra, of a sequence of groups connected by homomorphisms) Such that the kernel of one homomorphism is the image of the preceding one.

Synonyms

(precisely agreeing) perfect, true, correct, precise
(precisely or definitely conceived or stated) strict
spot on

Antonyms

(precisely agreeing) inexact, imprecise, approximate
(precisely or definitely conceived or stated) loose

Derived terms

Verb

(transitive) To demand and enforce the payment or performance of.to exact tribute, fees, or obedience

Bible, Luke iii. 13He said into them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.

(transitive) To make desirable or necessary.

MassingerMy designs exact me in another place.

(transitive) To forcibly obtain or produce.to exact revenge

Derived terms