"rationalize" meaning in English

See rationalize in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Verb

Forms: rationalizes [present, singular, third-person], rationalizing [participle, present], rationalized [participle, past], rationalized [past]
Etymology: From French rationaliser. By surface analysis, rational + -ize. Etymology templates: {{uder|en|fr|rationaliser}} French rationaliser, {{surf|en|rational|-ize}} By surface analysis, rational + -ize Head templates: {{en-verb}} rationalize (third-person singular simple present rationalizes, present participle rationalizing, simple past and past participle rationalized)
  1. To make something rational or more rational. Tags: British, English, Oxford, US Translations (to make something rational): arësyetoj (Albanian), racionalitzar (Catalan), järkiperäistää (Finnish), rationalisoida (Finnish), järkevöittää (Finnish), rationaliser (French), rationalisieren (German), észszerűsít (Hungarian), racionalizál (Hungarian), рационализи́ровать (racionalizírovatʹ) [imperfective, perfective] (Russian), racionalizar (Spanish), isamatwid (Tagalog)
    Sense id: en-rationalize-en-verb-mVXtn~ef Disambiguation of 'to make something rational': 91 1 4 3
  2. To justify an immoral act, or illogical behaviour. “The process of thought by which one justifies a discreditable act, and by which one offers to oneself and the world a better motive for one's action than the true motive” Tags: British, English, Oxford, US Translations (to justify negative behaviour): rationaalistaa (Finnish), älyllistää (Finnish), rationaliser (French), rationalisieren (psych.) (German), rechtfertigen (German), schönreden (German), megideologizál (Hungarian), racionalizovať (Slovak)
    Sense id: en-rationalize-en-verb-mPk0Or0I Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, English terms suffixed with -ize, English undefined derivations, Entries with translation boxes, Oxford spellings, Pages with 2 entries, Terms with Albanian translations, Terms with Catalan translations, Terms with Finnish translations, Terms with French translations, Terms with German translations, Terms with Russian translations, Terms with Slovak translations, Terms with Spanish translations, Terms with Tagalog translations Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 6 38 37 20 Disambiguation of English terms suffixed with -ize: 10 32 30 28 Disambiguation of English undefined derivations: 9 30 32 29 Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 9 35 31 25 Disambiguation of Oxford spellings: 2 39 33 26 Disambiguation of Pages with 2 entries: 3 21 24 13 22 17 Disambiguation of Terms with Albanian translations: 8 33 31 28 Disambiguation of Terms with Catalan translations: 8 32 31 28 Disambiguation of Terms with Finnish translations: 8 32 31 28 Disambiguation of Terms with French translations: 10 30 33 27 Disambiguation of Terms with German translations: 9 33 30 28 Disambiguation of Terms with Russian translations: 7 32 32 28 Disambiguation of Terms with Slovak translations: 8 33 31 28 Disambiguation of Terms with Spanish translations: 7 34 31 28 Disambiguation of Terms with Tagalog translations: 8 32 31 28 Disambiguation of 'to justify negative behaviour': 1 75 15 9
  3. (mathematics) To remove radicals, without changing the value of an expression or the roots of an equation. Tags: British, English, Oxford, US Categories (topical): Mathematics Translations (math: to remove radicals): racionalitzar (Catalan), rationaalistaa (Finnish), racionalizar (Spanish)
    Sense id: en-rationalize-en-verb-M7tN3qSA Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, English terms suffixed with -ize, English undefined derivations, Entries with translation boxes, Oxford spellings, Pages with 2 entries, Terms with Albanian translations, Terms with Catalan translations, Terms with Finnish translations, Terms with French translations, Terms with German translations, Terms with Hungarian translations, Terms with Russian translations, Terms with Slovak translations, Terms with Spanish translations, Terms with Tagalog translations Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 6 38 37 20 Disambiguation of English terms suffixed with -ize: 10 32 30 28 Disambiguation of English undefined derivations: 9 30 32 29 Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 9 35 31 25 Disambiguation of Oxford spellings: 2 39 33 26 Disambiguation of Pages with 2 entries: 3 21 24 13 22 17 Disambiguation of Terms with Albanian translations: 8 33 31 28 Disambiguation of Terms with Catalan translations: 8 32 31 28 Disambiguation of Terms with Finnish translations: 8 32 31 28 Disambiguation of Terms with French translations: 10 30 33 27 Disambiguation of Terms with German translations: 9 33 30 28 Disambiguation of Terms with Hungarian translations: 15 25 35 26 Disambiguation of Terms with Russian translations: 7 32 32 28 Disambiguation of Terms with Slovak translations: 8 33 31 28 Disambiguation of Terms with Spanish translations: 7 34 31 28 Disambiguation of Terms with Tagalog translations: 8 32 31 28 Topics: mathematics, sciences Disambiguation of 'math: to remove radicals': 2 9 83 6
  4. To structure something along modern, efficient and systematic lines, or according to scientific principles. This often includes eliminating duplication and grouping like or similar items. Tags: British, English, Oxford, US Translations (to structure along systematic lines): järkeistää (Finnish), rationalisoida (Finnish)
    Sense id: en-rationalize-en-verb-zs8FCTSJ Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, English terms suffixed with -ize, English undefined derivations, Entries with translation boxes, Oxford spellings, Pages with 2 entries, Terms with Albanian translations, Terms with Catalan translations, Terms with Finnish translations, Terms with French translations, Terms with German translations, Terms with Russian translations, Terms with Slovak translations, Terms with Spanish translations, Terms with Tagalog translations Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 6 38 37 20 Disambiguation of English terms suffixed with -ize: 10 32 30 28 Disambiguation of English undefined derivations: 9 30 32 29 Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 9 35 31 25 Disambiguation of Oxford spellings: 2 39 33 26 Disambiguation of Pages with 2 entries: 3 21 24 13 22 17 Disambiguation of Terms with Albanian translations: 8 33 31 28 Disambiguation of Terms with Catalan translations: 8 32 31 28 Disambiguation of Terms with Finnish translations: 8 32 31 28 Disambiguation of Terms with French translations: 10 30 33 27 Disambiguation of Terms with German translations: 9 33 30 28 Disambiguation of Terms with Russian translations: 7 32 32 28 Disambiguation of Terms with Slovak translations: 8 33 31 28 Disambiguation of Terms with Spanish translations: 7 34 31 28 Disambiguation of Terms with Tagalog translations: 8 32 31 28 Disambiguation of 'to structure along systematic lines': 3 4 7 86
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Synonyms: rationalise (english: non-Oxford British English) Hyponyms: euhemerize (english: myth & popular beliefs) Derived forms: rationalization, rationalisation

Inflected forms

Alternative forms

{
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      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
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      "args": {
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      "name": "uder"
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    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
      "english": "myth & popular beliefs",
      "word": "euhemerize"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "To make something rational or more rational."
      ],
      "id": "en-rationalize-en-verb-mVXtn~ef",
      "links": [
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          "rational",
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        {
          "_dis1": "91 1 4 3",
          "code": "sq",
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        {
          "_dis1": "91 1 4 3",
          "code": "ca",
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          "_dis1": "91 1 4 3",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
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          "word": "järkiperäistää"
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          "code": "fi",
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          "_dis1": "91 1 4 3",
          "code": "fi",
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          "word": "järkevöittää"
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        {
          "_dis1": "91 1 4 3",
          "code": "de",
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          "sense": "to make something rational",
          "word": "rationalisieren"
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        {
          "_dis1": "91 1 4 3",
          "code": "hu",
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          "sense": "to make something rational",
          "word": "észszerűsít"
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          "_dis1": "91 1 4 3",
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          "sense": "to make something rational",
          "word": "racionalizál"
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          "_dis1": "91 1 4 3",
          "code": "ru",
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          "roman": "racionalizírovatʹ",
          "sense": "to make something rational",
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            "perfective"
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          "word": "рационализи́ровать"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "91 1 4 3",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "to make something rational",
          "word": "racionalizar"
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        {
          "_dis1": "91 1 4 3",
          "code": "tl",
          "lang": "Tagalog",
          "sense": "to make something rational",
          "word": "isamatwid"
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          "ref": "1987, “Exhuming McCarthy”, in Document (R.E.M. No. 5), performed by R.E.M.:",
          "text": "Vested interest, united ties, / landed gentry, rationalize. / Look who bought the myth. / By jingo, buy America.",
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      "glosses": [
        "To justify an immoral act, or illogical behaviour. “The process of thought by which one justifies a discreditable act, and by which one offers to oneself and the world a better motive for one's action than the true motive”"
      ],
      "id": "en-rationalize-en-verb-mPk0Or0I",
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        {
          "_dis1": "1 75 15 9",
          "code": "fi",
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          "sense": "to justify negative behaviour",
          "word": "rationaalistaa"
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          "_dis1": "1 75 15 9",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to justify negative behaviour",
          "word": "älyllistää"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "1 75 15 9",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "to justify negative behaviour",
          "word": "rationaliser"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "1 75 15 9",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "to justify negative behaviour",
          "word": "rationalisieren (psych.)"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "1 75 15 9",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "to justify negative behaviour",
          "word": "rechtfertigen"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "1 75 15 9",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "to justify negative behaviour",
          "word": "schönreden"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "1 75 15 9",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "to justify negative behaviour",
          "word": "megideologizál"
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        {
          "_dis1": "1 75 15 9",
          "code": "sk",
          "lang": "Slovak",
          "sense": "to justify negative behaviour",
          "word": "racionalizovať"
        }
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        "To remove radicals, without changing the value of an expression or the roots of an equation."
      ],
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          "mathematics",
          "mathematics"
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        [
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          "radical"
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          "value"
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        [
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          "expression"
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        [
          "root",
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        "(mathematics) To remove radicals, without changing the value of an expression or the roots of an equation."
      ],
      "tags": [
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        "Oxford",
        "US"
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      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "2 9 83 6",
          "code": "ca",
          "lang": "Catalan",
          "sense": "math: to remove radicals",
          "word": "racionalitzar"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "2 9 83 6",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "math: to remove radicals",
          "word": "rationaalistaa"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "2 9 83 6",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "math: to remove radicals",
          "word": "racionalizar"
        }
      ]
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      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To structure something along modern, efficient and systematic lines, or according to scientific principles. This often includes eliminating duplication and grouping like or similar items."
      ],
      "id": "en-rationalize-en-verb-zs8FCTSJ",
      "links": [
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          "structure",
          "structure"
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        [
          "modern",
          "modern"
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        [
          "efficient",
          "efficient"
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        [
          "systematic",
          "systematic"
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        [
          "scientific",
          "scientific"
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        [
          "principle",
          "principle"
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      ],
      "tags": [
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      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "3 4 7 86",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to structure along systematic lines",
          "word": "järkeistää"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 4 7 86",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to structure along systematic lines",
          "word": "rationalisoida"
        }
      ]
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  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
      "english": "non-Oxford British English",
      "word": "rationalise"
    }
  ],
  "wikipedia": [
    "rationalize"
  ],
  "word": "rationalize"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "American English forms",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English terms derived from French",
    "English terms suffixed with -ize",
    "English undefined derivations",
    "English verbs",
    "Entries with translation boxes",
    "Oxford spellings",
    "Pages with 2 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Terms with Albanian translations",
    "Terms with Catalan translations",
    "Terms with Finnish translations",
    "Terms with French translations",
    "Terms with German translations",
    "Terms with Hungarian translations",
    "Terms with Russian translations",
    "Terms with Slovak translations",
    "Terms with Spanish translations",
    "Terms with Tagalog translations"
  ],
  "derived": [
    {
      "word": "rationalization"
    },
    {
      "word": "rationalisation"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "fr",
        "3": "rationaliser"
      },
      "expansion": "French rationaliser",
      "name": "uder"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "rational",
        "3": "-ize"
      },
      "expansion": "By surface analysis, rational + -ize",
      "name": "surf"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From French rationaliser. By surface analysis, rational + -ize.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "rationalizes",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "rationalizing",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "rationalized",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "rationalized",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "rationalize (third-person singular simple present rationalizes, present participle rationalizing, simple past and past participle rationalized)",
      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "hyponyms": [
    {
      "english": "myth & popular beliefs",
      "word": "euhemerize"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "To make something rational or more rational."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "rational",
          "rational"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "British",
        "English",
        "Oxford",
        "US"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1987, “Exhuming McCarthy”, in Document (R.E.M. No. 5), performed by R.E.M.:",
          "text": "Vested interest, united ties, / landed gentry, rationalize. / Look who bought the myth. / By jingo, buy America.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To justify an immoral act, or illogical behaviour. “The process of thought by which one justifies a discreditable act, and by which one offers to oneself and the world a better motive for one's action than the true motive”"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "justify",
          "justify"
        ],
        [
          "immoral",
          "immoral"
        ],
        [
          "illogical",
          "illogical"
        ],
        [
          "behaviour",
          "behaviour"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "British",
        "English",
        "Oxford",
        "US"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "en:Mathematics"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To remove radicals, without changing the value of an expression or the roots of an equation."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "mathematics",
          "mathematics"
        ],
        [
          "radical",
          "radical"
        ],
        [
          "value",
          "value"
        ],
        [
          "expression",
          "expression"
        ],
        [
          "root",
          "root"
        ],
        [
          "equation",
          "equation"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(mathematics) To remove radicals, without changing the value of an expression or the roots of an equation."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "British",
        "English",
        "Oxford",
        "US"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "mathematics",
        "sciences"
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "To structure something along modern, efficient and systematic lines, or according to scientific principles. This often includes eliminating duplication and grouping like or similar items."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "structure",
          "structure"
        ],
        [
          "modern",
          "modern"
        ],
        [
          "efficient",
          "efficient"
        ],
        [
          "systematic",
          "systematic"
        ],
        [
          "scientific",
          "scientific"
        ],
        [
          "principle",
          "principle"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "British",
        "English",
        "Oxford",
        "US"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "english": "non-Oxford British English",
      "word": "rationalise"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "sq",
      "lang": "Albanian",
      "sense": "to make something rational",
      "word": "arësyetoj"
    },
    {
      "code": "ca",
      "lang": "Catalan",
      "sense": "to make something rational",
      "word": "racionalitzar"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to make something rational",
      "word": "järkiperäistää"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to make something rational",
      "word": "rationalisoida"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to make something rational",
      "word": "järkevöittää"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "to make something rational",
      "word": "rationaliser"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "to make something rational",
      "word": "rationalisieren"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "to make something rational",
      "word": "észszerűsít"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "to make something rational",
      "word": "racionalizál"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "racionalizírovatʹ",
      "sense": "to make something rational",
      "tags": [
        "imperfective",
        "perfective"
      ],
      "word": "рационализи́ровать"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "to make something rational",
      "word": "racionalizar"
    },
    {
      "code": "tl",
      "lang": "Tagalog",
      "sense": "to make something rational",
      "word": "isamatwid"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to justify negative behaviour",
      "word": "rationaalistaa"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to justify negative behaviour",
      "word": "älyllistää"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "to justify negative behaviour",
      "word": "rationaliser"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "to justify negative behaviour",
      "word": "rationalisieren (psych.)"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "to justify negative behaviour",
      "word": "rechtfertigen"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "to justify negative behaviour",
      "word": "schönreden"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "to justify negative behaviour",
      "word": "megideologizál"
    },
    {
      "code": "sk",
      "lang": "Slovak",
      "sense": "to justify negative behaviour",
      "word": "racionalizovať"
    },
    {
      "code": "ca",
      "lang": "Catalan",
      "sense": "math: to remove radicals",
      "word": "racionalitzar"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "math: to remove radicals",
      "word": "rationaalistaa"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "math: to remove radicals",
      "word": "racionalizar"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to structure along systematic lines",
      "word": "järkeistää"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to structure along systematic lines",
      "word": "rationalisoida"
    }
  ],
  "wikipedia": [
    "rationalize"
  ],
  "word": "rationalize"
}

Download raw JSONL data for rationalize meaning in English (6.1kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-10-22 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-10-02 using wiktextract (eaa6b66 and a709d4b). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.