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| prob·lem [ próbbləm ] |
noun (plural prob·lems) |
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1. difficulty: a difficult situation, matter, or person
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2. puzzle to be solved: a question or puzzle that needs to be solved
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3. mathematics statement requiring mathematical solution: a statement or proposition requiring an algebraic, geometric, or other mathematical solution
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adjective |
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hard to deal with: difficult to discipline or deal with
 a problem child
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| [14th century. Via French and Latin< Greek problēma "projection, obstacle," literally "thing thrown in front" < ballein "to throw"] |
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no problem used to indicate that something will not cause any difficulty or inconvenience (informal)
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| Word Key: Synonyms |
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problem, mystery, puzzle, riddle, conundrum, enigma
CORE MEANING: something difficult to solve or understand
problem a difficult situation, matter, or person;
an ongoing problem
problems with the staff
mystery an event or situation that is difficult to fully understand or explain, or a person about whom little is known;
the key to understanding the mysteries of the universe
The question of who Barry really was remains a mystery.
puzzle a problem or situation that is difficult or impossible to resolve, or somebody whose behavior or motives are difficult to understand;
The puzzle of the missing letters remained.
riddle something that is puzzling or confusing;
The DNA team announced they had solved the riddle of the unidentified human remains.
conundrum something that is puzzling or confusing;
Here's the conundrum: if advances in productivity result in more workers losing their jobs, who will be able to buy the products and services being produced?
enigma somebody or something that is not easily explained or understood;
After 20 years of marriage, Madeleine was still very much an enigma to him. |
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