act

I

[[t]ækt[/t]]

n.

1) anything done, being done, or to be done; deed:

an act of mercy[/ex]

2) the process of doing:

caught in the act[/ex]

3) gov a formal decision, law, or the like, by a legislature, ruler, court, or other authority; decree or edict; statute:

an act of Congress[/ex]

4) an instrument or document stating something done or transacted

5) sbz one of the main divisions of a play or opera

6)

a) sbz a short performance by one or more entertainers, usu. part of a variety show, circus, etc

b) sbz the routine or style by which an entertainer or group of entertainers is known:

a magic act[/ex]

c) sbz the personnel of such a group

7) a display of insincere behavior assumed for effect; pretense

8) to do something; carry out an action; exert energy or force

9) to reach or issue a decision on some matter

10) to operate or function in a particular way:

to act as manager[/ex]

11) to produce an effect:

The medicine failed to act[/ex]

12) to behave or conduct oneself in a particular fashion

13) to pretend; feign

14) sbz to perform as an actor

15) sbz to be capable of being performed:

His plays don't act well[/ex]

16) sbz to represent (a fictitious or historical character) with one's person:

to act Macbeth[/ex]

17) to feign; counterfeit:

to act outraged virtue[/ex]

18) to behave as:

to act the fool[/ex]

19) to behave in a manner appropriate to:

to act one's age[/ex]

20) Obs. to actuate

21) cvb act for, to represent, esp. legally

22) phv act on or upon

a) to act in accordance with; follow

b) to have an effect on; affect

23) phv act out

a) to illustrate by pantomime or other gestures

b) to express (repressed emotions) inappropriately and without conscious understanding

24) phv act up

a) to fail to function properly; malfunction

b) to behave willfully

c) (of a recurring ailment) to become painful or troublesome again

•

- clean up one's act get

Etymology: 1350–1400; ME (< MF) < L ācta, pl. of āctum, n. use of neut. ptp. of agere to drive (cattle), do, perform II

act.

active