English

Noun

technique ‎(countable and uncountable, plural techniques)

1. (uncountable) The practical aspects of a given art, occupation etc.; formal requirements. [from 19th c.]
   • 1924, HE Wortham, A Musical Odyssey, p. 97:

     Brahms, after realizing that the technique of the piano was developing along mistaken lines, and his own danger of stereotyping his style, keeps away from it for most of his middle age [...].

   • 2013 July-August, Catherine Clabby, “Focus on Everything”, in American Scientist:

     Not long ago, it was difficult to produce photographs of tiny creatures with every part in focus. That’s because the lenses that are excellent at magnifying tiny subjects produce a narrow depth of field. A photo processing technique called focus stacking has changed that.

2. (uncountable) Practical ability in some given field or practice, often as opposed to creativity or imaginative skill. [from 19th c.]
   • 2011, "Bhimsen Joshi", The Economist, 3 Feb 2011:

     Yet those who packed concert halls to listen to him sing, as Indians did for over six decades, rarely mentioned his technique.

3. (countable) a method of achieving something or carrying something out, especially one requiring some skill or knowledge. [from 19th c.]
   • 2011, Paul Lewis & Matthew Taylor, The Guardian, 16 Mar 2011:

     They said executives were warned about one technique nicknamed "carpet karaoke", which involved bending deportees over in aircraft seats to silence them.

Related terms

• technic
• technical
• technician
• techniquing

Translations

External links

• technique in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• technique in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• technique at OneLook Dictionary Search

French

Etymology

From Ancient Greek τεχνικός ‎(tekhnikós, “of or pertaining to art, artistic, skilful”), from τέχνη ‎(tékhnē, “art, handicraft”), from τίκτειν ‎(tíktein, “to bring forth, produce”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tɛk.nik/

Adjective

technique m, f ‎(plural techniques)

1. technical

Noun

technique f ‎(plural techniques)

1. technique, technology