<programming> In object-oriented programming, a class
designed only as a parent from which sub-classes may be
derived, but which is not itself suitable for instantiation.
Often used to "abstract out" incomplete sets of features which
may then be shared by a group of sibling sub-classes which add
different variations of the missing pieces.
(1994-11-08)
Nearby terms:
ABSET « absolute path « absolute pathname « abstract class » abstract data type » abstract interpretation » abstraction