määratlemisel

Määratlemisel is the Estonian term that refers to the act or process of defining something—the meaning, scope, or boundaries of a term, concept, or object. It is derived from the verb määratlema (to define) and the noun määratlemine (definition, the act of defining). The form määratlemisel expresses the circumstance of this action, often translated as “in the process of defining” or “during definition.” In academic and analytical writing, it is used to indicate the phase in which terms are clarified and criteria are established.

In practice, määratlemisel involves identifying core properties, distinguishing essential features from incidental ones, and agreeing on measurement or evaluation criteria. It supports consistency in research design, data interpretation, and argumentation by providing a shared terminology. The concept is central to disciplines such as philosophy, linguistics, information science, and various fields of inquiry where precise terminology is necessary.

Usage examples illustrate its role in structuring analysis. For instance, during the definition stage, one might state that “Määratlemisel tuleb täpsustada mõiste ulatus ja piirid.” or “Teoreetilise mudeli määratlemisel on oluline eristada kontseptsioone ja operatsionaliseerida muutujad.” Such phrasing highlights the preparatory nature of defining terms before further argument or investigation.

See also: määratlus, definitsioon, määratlemine, kontseptsioon.