# function (purpose)

the purpose a thing is for

- Computed level: L10 (depth in the emergence graph, not abstraction)
- Status: review  ·  Domain: everyday  ·  Arena: concept

## Emergence
**Emerges from:** [purpose](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-purpose.goal), [property](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-property.attribute)

**Through:** the purpose together with a property together do what a thing is for

**Novel properties:**
- intended use
- role
- meaning

## Examples
- The International Space Station maintains electrical power through solar arrays that rotate to track the sun. *(engineering)*
- Bees pollinate almond trees in California's Central Valley each February, enabling commercial nut production. *(agriculture)*
- The Federal Reserve raises interest rates to slow inflation and stabilize the US dollar's purchasing power. *(economics)*

## Used by
- [collapse](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-collapse.failure) (L14)
- [furniture](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-furniture.home) (L11)
- [institute](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-institute.organization) (L17)
- [stress](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-stress.condition) (L13)

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*Canonical: https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-function.purpose*  
*Structured data: https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-function.purpose.json*  
*Every definition provably resolves to space, time, energy and pattern.*