absence

Everyday

1. Absence is being away from a place, like school or work, when you should be there. tree →
2. An absence is a time when someone is away. tree →
3. Absence of something means it is not there or there is none of it. tree →

In the lessons

In school, absences are recorded in the register; too many absences are a problem, and parents write a note to explain. In science, «in the absence of light» plants cannot make food. In maths attendance problems, present = total − absent. Phrases: in the absence of, absence from school, a long absence, leave of absence.

Examples

• She had three absences from school this term. tree →
• Your absence was noticed at the meeting. tree →
• In the absence of light, plants cannot make food. tree →
• After a long absence, the swallows returned. tree →
• There were 28 pupils and 3 absences, so 25 were present. tree →
• The absence of rain made the grass turn brown. tree →
• The teacher marked his absence in the register. tree →
• In his absence things are usually quiet on the island. tree →

Note

Countable (an absence, absences) and uncountable. The adjective is «absent»; the opposite is «presence». Spelling trap: «absence» with -ence (not -ance or -sense). «Absence makes the heart grow fonder» is a saying meaning you miss people when they are away.

In Jewish tradition

In school, absences are recorded in the register; too many absences are a problem, and parents write a note to explain. In science, «in the absence of light» plants cannot make food. In maths attendance problems, present = total − absent. Phrases: in the absence of, absence from school, a long absence, leave of absence.

Examples

• C. to denote the absence of degrees, minutes, or seconds in their sexagesi- mal notation. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →
• As the - indicates the absence of a vowel letter, and is similar in its nature to the zero, which indicates the absence of a digit, it is possible that the " originated from the zero. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →

Note

Countable (an absence, absences) and uncountable. The adjective is «absent»; the opposite is «presence». Spelling trap: «absence» with -ence (not -ance or -sense). «Absence makes the heart grow fonder» is a saying meaning you miss people when they are away.