Noun

• S: (n) principle, rule (a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct) "their principles of composition characterized all their works"
• S: (n) principle (a rule or standard especially of good behavior) "a man of principle"; "he will not violate his principles"
• S: (n) principle (a basic truth or law or assumption) "the principles of democracy"
• S: (n) principle, rule (a rule or law concerning a natural phenomenon or the function of a complex system) "the principle of the conservation of mass"; "the principle of jet propulsion"; "the right-hand rule for inductive fields"
• S: (n) principle, precept (rule of personal conduct)
• S: (n) rationale, principle ((law) an explanation of the fundamental reasons (especially an explanation of the working of some device in terms of laws of nature)) "the rationale for capital punishment"; "the principles of internal-combustion engines"
• direct hyponym / full hyponym
• domain category
• direct hypernym / inherited hypernym / sister term
• derivationally related form