ontology Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun (computer science) a rigorous and exhaustive organization of some knowledge domain that is usually hierarchical and contains all the relevant entities and their relations
  2. noun the metaphysical study of the nature of being and existence

WordNet


On*tol"o*gy noun
Etymology
Gr. the things which exist (pl.neut. of , , being, p.pr. of to be) + -logy: cf.F. ontologie.
Definitions
  1. That department of the science of metaphysics which investigates and explains the nature and essential properties and relations of all beings, as such, or the principles and causes of being.

Webster 1913