different between optional vs selective

English

Etymology

option +? -al

Adjective

optional (not comparable)

1. Not compulsory; left to personal choice; elective.

   Synonyms: facultative; see also Thesaurus:optional

   Antonyms: compulsory, mandatory, obligatory; see also Thesaurus:compulsory

Antonyms

• non-optional, nonoptional

Related terms

• option
• optionality
• optionally

Translations

Noun

optional (plural optionals)

1. Something that is not compulsory, especially part of an academic course.
2. (programming, sometimes capitalized) In various programming languages, a kind of variable that is assigned a specific data type but may or may not hold an actual value.
   • 2015, Richard M Reese, Learning Java Functional Programming, Packt Publishing Ltd (?ISBN), page 147:

     In functional languages, there is a data type called the option type, also called the maybe type. Its purpose is to encapsulate a value, which is returned from a function. […] In Java 8, the Optional class has been added to serve as an option type.

Anagrams

• Politano

German

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?pts??o?na?l/
• Hyphenation: op?ti?o?nal

Adjective

optional (not comparable)

1. optional

Declension

Further reading

• “optional” in Duden online

Italian

Etymology

Borrowed from English optional.

Noun

optional m (invariable)

1. optional accessory
2. handicap (horse racing)

Anagrams

• pilotano

English

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /s??l?kt?v/
• Rhymes: -?kt?v

Adjective

selective (comparative more selective, superlative most selective)

1. Of or relating to the process of selection. (Can we add an example for this sense?)
2. (biology) Of or relating to natural selection.

   selective pressure

3. (of a person) choosy, fussy or discriminating when selecting.

   He's very selective and spent hours in the store choosing a new shirt.

4. (chiefly US, not comparable) Having the authority or capability to make a selection.

   In the USA, military conscription is controlled by the Selective Service.

Derived terms

• selectively
• selectiveness

Related terms

• select
• selectivity

Translations

References

• “selective” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.

Anagrams

• cleveites, electives