Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Universal \U`ni*ver"sal\, n.
   1. The whole; the general system of the universe; the
      universe. [Obs.]

            Plato calleth God the cause and original, the nature
            and reason, of the universal.         --Sir W.
                                                  Raleigh.

   2. (Logic)
      (a) A general abstract conception, so called from being
          universally applicable to, or predicable of, each
          individual or species contained under it.
      (b) A universal proposition. See {Universal}, a., 4.

Universal \U`ni*ver"sal\, a. [L. universalis: cf. F. universel,
   OF. also universal. See {Universe}.]
   1. Of or pertaining to the universe; extending to, including,
      or affecting, the whole number, quantity, or space;
      unlimited; general; all-reaching; all-pervading; as,
      universal ruin; universal good; universal benevolence or
      benefice. ``Anointed universal King.'' --Milton.

            The universal cause Acts not by partial, but by
            general laws.                         --Pope.

            This universal frame began.           --Dryden.

   Note: Universal and its derivatives are used in common
         discourse for general and its derivatives. See
         {General}.

   2. Constituting or considered as a whole; total; entire;
      whole; as, the universal world. --Shak.

            At which the universal host up dent A shout that
            tore Hell's concave.                  --Milton.

   3. (Mech.) Adapted or adaptable to all or to various uses,
      shapes, sizes, etc.; as, a universal milling machine.

   4. (Logic) Forming the whole of a genus; relatively unlimited
      in extension; affirmed or denied of the whole of a
      subject; as, a universal proposition; -- opposed to
      {particular}; e. g. (universal affirmative) All men are
      animals; (universal negative) No men are omniscient.

   {Universal chuck} (Mach.), a chuck, as for a lathe, having
      jaws which can be moved simultaneously so as to grasp
      objects of various sizes.

   {Universal church}, the whole church of God in the world; the
      catholic church. See the Note under {Catholic}, a., 1.

   {Universal coupling}. (Mach.) Same as {Universal joint},
      below.

   {Universal dial}, a dial by which the hour may be found in
      any part of the world, or under any elevation of the pole.
      

   {Universal instrument} (Astron.), a species of altitude and
      azimuth instrument, the peculiarity of which is, that the
      object end of the telescope is placed at right angles to
      the eye end, with a prism of total reflection at the
      angle, and the eye end constitutes a portion of the
      horizontal axis of the instrument, having the eyepiece at
      the pivot and in the center of the altitude circle, so
      that the eye has convenient access to both at the same
      time.

   {Universal joint} (Mach.), a contrivance used for joining two
      shafts or parts of a machine endwise, so that the one may
      give rotary motion to the other when forming an angle with
      it, or may move freely in all directions with respect to
      the other, as by means of a cross connecting the forked
      ends of the two shafts (Fig. 1). Since this joint can not
      act when the angle of the shafts is less than 140[deg], a
      double joint of the same kind is sometimes used for giving
      rotary motion at angles less than 140[deg] (Fig. 2).

   {Universal umbel} (Bot.), a primary or general umbel; the
      first or largest set of rays in a compound umbel; --
      opposed to partial umbel. A universal involucre is not
      unfrequently placed at the foot of a universal umbel.

   Syn: General; all; whole; total. See {General}.

Source : WordNet®

universal
     adj : of worldwide scope or applicability; "an issue of
           cosmopolitan import"; "the shrewdest political and
           ecumenical comment of our time"- Christopher Morley;
           "universal experience" [syn: {cosmopolitan}, {ecumenical},
            {oecumenical}, {general}, {worldwide}]

universal
     n : coupling that connects two rotating shafts allowing freedom
         of movement in all directions; "in motor vehicles a
         universal joint allows the driveshaft to move up and down
         as the vehicle passes over bumps" [syn: {universal joint}]