<p><strong>Verb</strong></p><ul><li>(used with object) postulated, postulating.<ul><li>to ask, demand, or claim.</li><li>to claim or assume the existence or truth of, especially as a basis for reasoning or arguing.</li><li>to assume without proof, or as self-evident; take for granted.</li><li><strong>Synonyms</strong>: conjecture, presuppose, hypothecate.</li><li>Mathematics, Logic: to assume as a postulate.</li></ul></li></ul><p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>something taken as self-evident or assumed without proof as a basis for reasoning.<ul><li><strong>Synonyms</strong>: conjecture, assumption, axiom, theory, hypothesis.</li><li>Mathematics, Logic: a proposition that requires no proof, being self-evident, or that is for a specific purpose assumed true, and that is used in the proof of other propositions; axiom.</li><li>a fundamental principle.</li><li>a necessary condition; prerequisite.</li></ul></li></ul>