method

noun

1. (countable)A process by which a task is completed; a way of doing something (followed by the adposition of, to or for before the purpose of the process).

   “If one method doesn't work, you should ask a friend to help you.”

   “He at once secured attention by his informal method, and when presently the coughing of Jarvis […] interrupted the sermon, he altogether captivated his audience with a remark about cough lozenges being cheap and easily procurable.”

   “Many insects probably use this strategy, which is a close analogy to crypsis in the visible world—camouflage and other methods for blending into one’s visual background.”

2. (uncountable)Systematicity, methodicalness, intentionality, order

   “Though this be madneſſe, / Yet there is Method in 't: […]”

   “There's method in the universe. We're lucky that things aren't worse.”

3. (countable, uncountable)A technique for acting based on the ideas articulated by Konstantin Stanislavski and focusing on authentically experiencing the inner life of the character being portrayed.

   “In this case, the application of the famous method was a little shaky. To be fair, the director was dealing with a pretty stroppy cast.”

4. (countable, uncountable)A subroutine or function belonging to a class or object.

   “When you call the method, you provide values corresponding to these variables in your method call.”

5. (countable, slang, uncountable)Marijuana.
6. (countable, dated, uncountable)An instruction book systematically arranged.
7. (abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis)Ellipsis of method air.

verb

1. (transitive)To apply a method to.

   “1809, Rachel Russell (baroness.), Letters. To which is prefixed, an intr. vindicating the character of lord ... "Says he, there is above ten thousand brisk boys are ready to follow me, whenever I hold up my finger : — Says I, how have you methoded this, that they shall not be crushed, for there will be a great force to oppose you?"”

2. (broadly, transitive)To apply particular treatment methods to (a mold).

   “The company employs extensive use of 3D modelling combined with solidification simulation to ensure that critical castings are properly methoded.”