simple past tense and past participle of define
"The judge defined the term as it was written in the original contract before we could argue about our interpretation."
In plain English: To define something is to clearly state exactly what it means or describe its specific characteristics.
"The new rules defined exactly what employees must do to qualify for overtime pay."
Usage: Use "defined" to describe an action that has already happened where limits or characteristics were set clearly, such as when boundaries were established yesterday. Do not use it as a present-tense verb; instead, say "defines" for current actions or "define" for future or habitual ones.
clearly characterized or delimited
"lost in a maze of words both defined and undefined"
"each child has clearly defined duties"
Having a definition or value.
"Before we can calculate our tax liability, the IRS must have clearly defined the income threshold for each bracket."
In plain English: Defined means something is clearly explained or has a specific meaning that everyone agrees on.
"The job description clearly defined his responsibilities."
Usage: Use "defined" as an adjective to describe something that has clear boundaries, distinct characteristics, or a specific numerical value. Avoid using it loosely when you simply mean something is well-understood, as the term strictly implies the existence of a formal limit or assignment.
Derived from Latin definire, meaning "to set limits" or "to bound," this past participle originally referred to marking out boundaries before evolving to mean clearly stating the exact nature of something.