Modal

/ˈməʊdəl/ · adjective

Meaning

Of, or relating to a mode or modus..

Definitions by Sense

1. Of, or relating to a mode or modus.
2. (grammar) Of, relating to, or describing the mood of a clause.
3. (music) Of, relating to, or composed in the musical modi by which an octave is divided, associated with emotional moods in Ancient — and in medieval ecclesiastical — music.
4. (logic) Of, or relating to the modality between propositions.
5. (statistics) Relating to the statistical mode.
6. (computing) Having separate modes in which user input has different effects.
7. (graphical user interface) Requiring immediate user interaction and thus presented so that it cannot be closed or interacted behind until a decision is made.
8. (metaphysics) Relating to the form of a thing rather to any of its attributes.

Example Sentences

a modal dialog; a modal window

Dialogs can be modal, in which case the user is required to provide necessary information before work in the main window can continue, or modeless. Modeless dialogs do not prevent the user from interacting with any of the other windows in the application.

Using the same type of distributional criterion, we could argue that only a Verb (in its base form) can occur in the position marked — in (23) below to complete the sentence: (23) They/it can — [...] Conversely, the only type of word which could be used to begin a three-word sentence such as (25) below: (25) — I be frank? is a Modal: cf. [...]

Modal screen elements are subtrees which, when activated, disable all elements external to them. Examples of modals are yes-no message boxes and the application itself.

Synonyms for modal

Antonyms for modal

Related Words

Word Forms

• more modal
• most modal
• modals

Usage Notes

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