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Scope vs Purpose - What's the difference?

scope | purpose |

As nouns the difference between purpose and scope

is that purpose is an object to be reached; a target; an aim; a goal while scope is the breadth, depth or reach of a subject; a domain.

As verbs the difference between purpose and scope

is that purpose is have set as one's purpose; resolve to accomplish; intend; plan while scope is to perform a cursory investigation, as to scope out.

scope

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • The breadth, depth or reach of a subject; a domain.
  • A device used in aiming a projectile, through which the person aiming looks at the intended target
  • (computing) The region of program source in which an identifier is meaningful.
  • (logic) The shortest sub-wff of which a given instance of a logical connective is a part.
  • (linguistics) The region of an utterance to which some modifying element applies.
  • the scope of an adverb
  • (slang) Shortened form of periscope, telescope, microscope or oscilloscope.
  • Derived terms

    * scopeless

    Verb

    (scop)
  • To perform a cursory investigation, as to scope out .
  • (slang) To perform arthroscopic surgery.
  • The surgeon will scope the football player's knee to repair damage to a ligament.
  • (slang) To examine under a microscope.
  • The entomologist explained that he could not tell what species of springtail we were looking at without scoping it.

    Anagrams

    * copes * copse ----

    purpose

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An object to be reached; a target; an aim; a goal.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-07, author= Ed Pilkington
  • , volume=188, issue=26, page=6, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= ‘Killer robots’ should be banned in advance, UN told , passage=In his submission to the UN, [Christof] Heyns points to the experience of drones. Unmanned aerial vehicles were intended initially only for surveillance, and their use for offensive purposes was prohibited, yet once strategists realised their perceived advantages as a means of carrying out targeted killings, all objections were swept out of the way.}}
  • A result that is desired; an intention.
  • The act of intending to do something; resolution; determination.
  • * 2013 , Phil McNulty, "[http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23830980]", BBC Sport , 1 September 2013:
  • United began with more purpose in the early phase of the second half and Liverpool were grateful for Glen Johnson's crucial block from Young's goalbound shot.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=July-August, author= Sarah Glaz
  • , title= Ode to Prime Numbers , volume=101, issue=4, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Some poems, echoing the purpose of early poetic treatises on scientific principles, attempt to elucidate the mathematical concepts that underlie prime numbers. Others play with primes’ cultural associations. Still others derive their structure from mathematical patterns involving primes.}}
  • The subject of discourse; the point at issue.
  • (Spenser)
  • The reason for which something is done, or the reason it is done in a particular way.
  • The purpose of turning off the lights overnight is to save energy.
  • (obsolete) Instance; example.
  • (rfquotek, L'Estrange)
    Synonyms
    * (target ): aim, goal, object, target * (intention ): aim, plan, intention * (determination ): determination, intention, resolution * (subject of discourse ): matter, subject, topic * (reason for doing something ): reason * See also
    Derived terms
    (terms derived from purpose) * all-purpose * common purpose * cross-purpose * fit for purpose * for all intents and purposes * game with a purpose * general-purpose * infinitive of purpose * multi-purpose * metapurpose * purpose-built * purposeful * purposeless * purpose-like * purpose loan * purposely * purpose statement * on purpose

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl)

    Verb

    (purpos)
  • Have set as one's purpose; resolve to accomplish; intend; plan.
  • * Macaulay
  • I purpose to write the history of England from the accession of King James the Second down to a time which is within the memory of men still living.
  • (passive ) Designed for some purpose.
  • (obsolete) To have a purpose or intention; to discourse.
  • (Spenser)
    Derived terms
    * purposed * purposer * purposive * on purpose
    Synonyms
    * (have set as one's purpose ): aim, intend, mean, plan, set out * (designed for some purpose ): intended

    References

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    Statistics

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