in-for-ma-tion \,in-fer-'ma^--shen\ n (14c) 1: the communication or reception of knowledge or intelligence 2a (1): knowledge obtained from investigation, study, or instruction 2a (2): INTELLIGENCE, NEWS a3: FACTS, DATA 2b: the attribute inherent in and communicated by one of two or more alternative sequences or arrangements of something (as nucleotides in DNA or binary digits in a computer program) that produce specific effects 2c (1): a signal or character (as in a communication system or computer) representing data 2c (2): something (as a message, experimental data, or a picture) which justifies change in a construct (as a plan or theor) that represents physical or mental experience or another construct 2d: a quantitative measure of the content of information; specif: a numerical quantity that measures the uncertainty in the outcome of an experiment to be performed 3: the act of informing against a person 4: a formal accusation of a crime made by a prosecuting officer as distinguished from an indictment presented by a grand jury -- in-for-ma-tion-al \-shnel, -shen-)el\ adj -- in-for-ma-tion-less \-shen-les\ adj syn: information n 1 syn KNOWLEDGE 2, lore, science, wisdom 2 syn NEWS, advice, intelligence, speerings, tidings, word