0 past simple and past participle of presume
1 to believe something to be true because it is very likely, although you are not certain:
[ + obj + to infinitive ] The universe is presumed to contain many other planets with some form of life.
In British law, you are presumed innocent until you are proved guilty.
[ + obj + adj ] The boat's captain is missing, presumed dead (= it is believed that he is dead).
[ + speech ] You are Dr Smith, I presume?
[ + (that) ] I presume (that) they're not coming, since they haven't replied to the invitation.
2 to do something although you know that you do not have a right to do it:
Profiles of presumed primary lysosomes are often present near the lamellar bodies, but convincing evidence of fusion was not observed.
The presumed mutations were genetically tested and confirmed by an allelism test.
Glycogen particles are not present within the organelles, and it is presumed that the contents are a type of mucopolysaccharide.
They already contained coarse electron-dense granules - the presumed precursor substance for the crystalline material.
This effect of pregnancy has for long been confused with a presumed effect of lactation.
The evidence available is derived from later steps in the presumed pathway, but it is known that these are well conserved across species.
The assumption is that schooling facilitates learning which, in turn, is presumed to instill a favorable attitude towards the use of improved farm practices41.
It could be presumed that boys form negative attitudes toward singing because of their apparent lesser ability in this area.