Definition of affordance
1. afford [ v ] be able to spare or give up
Examples:
"I can't afford to spend two hours with this person"
(Schubert Ogden, Christ Without Myth....)
But can we any longer afford the luxury of such smug indignation ?
But , as Scripture everywhere reminds us , God does have need of his creatures , and the church , a_fortiori , can ill afford to do without the talents with which the world , by God 's providence , presents it .
(Tristram P. Coffin, "Folklore in the American Twentieth...)
The commercial propagandist , who can n't afford to be critical , gets_along well with the amateur , from whom he feeds , but he frequently steps on the analyst 's toes by refusing to keep his material genuine .
(Max F. Millikan and Donald L. M. Blackmer,...)
With_respect_to those countries whose leaders prefer to live with their illusions , we can afford to wait , for in_time their comparative lack of progress will become clear for all to see .
(Tristram Coffin, Not to the Swift....)
But then his son could afford it .
Synonyms afford Related Terms spend2. afford [ v ] be the cause or source of
Examples:
"He gave me a lot of trouble"
"Our meeting afforded much interesting information"
(Mr. America, 4:6...)
( Note how strongly the upper lats and serratus are worked in this fine exercise because of the pin_point concentration of force which the dumbbell variation affords ) .
(Richard I. McCosh, "Recreation Site Selection"...)
The amount of water frontage , the quantity and quality of the water , and the recreation afforded by it are important .
(J. W. C. Hagstrom et al., "Debilitating muscular...)
Although biopsies have shown structural changes in some of the reported cases of steroid induced weakness , this case provides the only example known to us in which necropsy afforded the opportunity for extensive study of multiple muscle groups .
Synonyms give afford yield Related Terms supply leave open give3. afford [ v ] have the financial means to do something or buy something
Examples:
"We can't afford to send our children to college"
"Can you afford this car?"
4. afford [ v ] afford access to
Examples:
"the door opens to the patio"
"The French doors give onto a terrace"