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Page 3 of 3 . . The term "weather" is also a semi-abstraction. There is no such single identifiable material thing as "weather", which makes it largely an abstract concept. "Weather" is a general term that we use to indicate a variable combination of physical phenomena such as temperature, wind velocity, humidity, precipitation (or lack thereof), air pressure, wind direction, and so on. To the degree that these phenomena can be seen, felt, or heard, they relate to non-abstract physical phenomena. However, since the term "weather" can include any or all of these things, and has no precise meaning (although we know in general what is meant when the term is used) it is a semi-abstraction. The term "hot", on the other hand, is totally abstract. There is no such thing as a "hot". Yet the term is often used to describe the condition of a physical object. But exactly what do we mean when we say "hot" ? The term itself has no precise, objective meaning or measure. It is an intellectual, or abstract, concept. Go to next lesson ... >>
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