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| Date: | 1300-1400 |
| Language: | French |
| Origin: | principe, from Latin principium 'beginning', from princeps; PRINCE |
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prin‧ci‧ple S3 W1
1 a moral rule or belief about what is right and wrong, that influences how you behave : 
He prided himself on his high moral principles (=strong ideas about how it is right or wrong to behave)He's got no principles at all!
moral rule
[uncountable and countable]He prided himself on his high moral principles (=strong ideas about how it is right or wrong to behave)He's got no principles at all! man/woman of principle (=a man or woman with strong moral ideas) He considered himself to be a man of principle.
He considered himself to be a man of principle.2 the basic idea that a plan or system is based on : Similar principles apply in the case of older children (=the principles are the same as others that have been mentioned).
idea behind something
[countable] principle that Reflexology is based on the principle that specific areas on the feet correspond to different parts of the body.
Reflexology is based on the principle that specific areas on the feet correspond to different parts of the body. on a principle The project worked on the principle that each person's experience was equally valuable.
The project worked on the principle that each person's experience was equally valuable.Similar principles apply in the case of older children (=the principles are the same as others that have been mentioned).3
in principle
a) if something is possible in principle, there is no good reason why it should not happen, but it has not actually happened yet : In principle, the new software should make the accounting system a lot simpler.
In principle, the new software should make the accounting system a lot simpler.b) if you agree to something in principle, you agree about a general plan or idea but have not yet considered the details : They have accepted the idea in principle.
They have accepted the idea in principle.4 a rule which explains the way something such as a machine works, or which explains a natural force in the universe : Archimedes' principle
rules of a process
[countable]Archimedes' principle principle of the basic principles of physics
the basic principles of physics! Do not confuse the noun principle (=a basic rule) with the noun and adjective principal, which have the same pronunciation but different meanings.
