external
Other forms: externals
If, as a kid, you didn’t get what you wanted on your birthday, you were probably told that external, or outward, things can’t bring happiness. (It’s a noble idea, but it’s still up for debate, at least in some circles.)
External contains the prefix ex- meaning “out of.” It shares this prefix with a number of other words including extraterrestrial (meaning “outside of Earth’s limits") and exclude (meaning “keep someone out”). The opposite of external is internal; again, as you’ve probably been told, it’s the internal things that really matter. What we’re wondering is: Does that include the leather interior in our dream convertible?
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happening or arising or located outside or beyond some limits or especially surface“the external auditory canal”“external pressures”
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Synonyms:
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outer
being on or toward the outside of the body
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outside
originating or belonging beyond some bounds:"the outside world"
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outside
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
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Antonyms:
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internal
happening or arising or located within some limits or especially surface
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inner
inside or closer to the inside of the body
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interior
inside and toward a center
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internecine
(of conflict) within a group or organization
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intrinsic
situated within or belonging solely to the organ or body part on which it acts
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inside
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
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outer
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coming from the outside
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synonyms:
extraneous, outside
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extrinsic
not forming an essential part of a thing or arising or originating from the outside
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extrinsic
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purely outward or superficial“external composure”“"an external concern for reputation"- A.R.Gurney,Jr.”
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Synonyms:
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outward
relating to physical reality rather than with thoughts or the mind
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outward
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outward features“he enjoyed the solemn externals of religion”
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type of:
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characteristic, feature
a prominent attribute or aspect of something
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characteristic, feature
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from or between other countries“external commerce”
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synonyms:
international, outside
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foreign
of concern to or concerning the affairs of other nations (other than your own)
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foreign
/ɛkˈstərnəl/
/ɛkˈstənəl/
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