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13 dictionary results for: action
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
ac·tion       [ak-shuhn] Pronunciation Key
–noun
1.the process or state of acting or of being active: The machine is not in action now.
2.something done or performed; act; deed.
3.an act that one consciously wills and that may be characterized by physical or mental activity: a crisis that demands action instead of debate; hoping for constructive action by the landlord.
4.actions, habitual or usual acts; conduct: He is responsible for his actions.
5.energetic activity: a man of action.
6.an exertion of power or force: the action of wind upon a ship's sails.
7.effect or influence: the action of morphine.
8.Physiology. a change in organs, tissues, or cells leading to performance of a function, as in muscular contraction.
9.way or manner of moving: the action of a machine or of a horse.
10.the mechanism by which something is operated, as that of a gun or a piano.
11.a military encounter or engagement; battle, skirmish, or the like.
12.actual engagement in fighting an enemy; military or naval combat: He saw action in Vietnam.
13.Literature. the main subject or story, as distinguished from an incidental episode.
14.Theater.
a.an event or series of events that form part of a dramatic plot: the action of a scene.
b.one of the three unities. Compare unity (def. 8).
15.the gestures or deportment of an actor or speaker.
16.Fine Arts. the appearance of animation, movement, or emotion given to figures by their attitude, position, or expression.
17.Law.
a.a proceeding instituted by one party against another.
b.the right of bringing it.
18.Slang.
a.interesting or exciting activity, often of an illicit nature: He gave us some tips on where the action was.
b.gambling or the excitement of gambling: The casino usually offers plenty of action.
c.money bet in gambling, esp. illegally.
19.Ecclesiastical.
a.a religious ceremony, esp. a Eucharistic service.
b.the canon of the Mass.
c.those parts of a service of worship in which the congregation participates.
–adjective
20.characterized by brisk or dynamic action: an action car; an action melodrama.
—Idioms
21.in action,
a.performing or taking part in a characteristic act: The school baseball team is in action tonight.
b.working; functioning: His rescuing the child was bravery in action.
22.out of action, removed from action, as by sudden disability: The star halfback is out of action with a bad knee.
23.piece of the action, Informal. a share of the proceeds or profits: Cut me in for a piece of the action.
24.take action,
a.to start doing something: As soon as we get his decision, we'll take action.
b.to start a legal procedure.
[Origin: 1300–50; < L āctiōn- (s. of āctiō), equiv. to āct(us) (ptp.; see act) + -iōn- -ion; r. ME accioun < AF < L]

—Related forms
ac·tion·less, adjective

—Synonyms 1. movement, operation. 2. Action, act, deed mean something done. Action applies esp. to the doing, act to the result of the doing. An action usually lasts through some time and consists of more than one act: to take action on a petition. An act is single: an act of kindness. Deed emphasizes the finished or completed quality of an act; it may imply an act of some note, good or bad: an irrevocable deed; a deed of daring. 4. behavior. 12. brush, encounter, fight, skirmish. See battle. 15. plot.
—Antonyms 1. rest, inactivity.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
ACTION       [ak-shuhn] Pronunciation Key
–noun U.S. Government.
an independent agency created in 1971 to administer domestic volunteer programs.
[Origin: named by analogy with the acronymic names of other agencies, but itself not an acronym]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
ac·tion       (āk'shən)  Pronunciation Key 
n.  
  1. The state or process of acting or doing: The medical team went into action.
  2. Something done or accomplished; a deed. See Usage Note at act.
  3. Organized activity to accomplish an objective: a problem requiring drastic action.
  4. The causation of change by the exertion of power or a natural process: the action of waves on a beach; the action of a drug on blood pressure.
  5. A movement or a series of movements, as of an actor.
  6. Manner of movement: a horse with fine action.
  7. Habitual or vigorous activity; energy: a woman of action.
  8. Behavior or conduct. Often used in the plural.
    1. The operating parts of a mechanism.
    2. The manner in which such parts operate.
    3. The manner in which a musical instrument can be played; playability: a piano with quick action.
    4. Armed encounter; combat: missing in action.
    5. An engagement between troops or ships: fought a rear-guard action.
  10. The series of events and episodes that form the plot of a story or play.
  11. The appearance of animation of a figure in painting or sculpture.
  12. Law A judicial proceeding whose purpose is to obtain relief at the hands of a court.
    1. Armed encounter; combat: missing in action.
    2. An engagement between troops or ships: fought a rear-guard action.
  14. The most important or exciting work or activity in a specific field or area: always heads for where the action is.

ac'tion·less adj.
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
action 
c.1360, from O.Fr. action, from L. actionem (nom. actio), from stem of agere "to do" (see act). Meaning "fighting" is from 1599. As a film director's command, it is attested from 1923. Meaning "excitement" is recorded from 1968. Phrase actions speak louder than words is attested from 1845.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
action

noun
1. something done (usually as opposed to something said); "there were stories of murders and other unnatural actions" 
2. the state of being active; "his sphere of activity"; "he is out of action" [ant: inaction] 
3. a military engagement; "he saw action in Korea" [syn: military action] 
4. a process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings); "the action of natural forces"; "volcanic activity" [syn: natural process] 
5. the series of events that form a plot; "his novels always have a lot of action" 
6. the trait of being active and energetic and forceful; "a man of action" 
7. the operating part that transmits power to a mechanism; "the piano had a very stiff action" 
8. a judicial proceeding brought by one party against another; one party prosecutes another for a wrong done or for protection of a right or for prevention of a wrong [syn: legal action] 
9. an act by a government body or supranational organization; "recent federal action undermined the segregationist position"; "the United Nations must have the power to propose and organize action without being hobbled by irrelevant issues"; "the Union action of emancipating Southern slaves" 
10. the most important or interesting work or activity in a specific area or field; "the action is no longer in technology stocks but in municipal bonds"; "gawkers always try to get as close to the action as possible" 

verb
1. institute legal proceedings against; file a suit against; "He was warned that the district attorney would process him"; "She actioned the company for discrimination" 
2. put in effect; "carry out a task"; "execute the decision of the people"; "He actioned the operation" [syn: carry through] 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

action

In addition to the idioms beginning with action, also see all talk and no action; piece of the action; swing into action.


The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

action ac·tion (āk'shən)
n.

  1. The state or process of acting or doing.
  2. A deed.
  3. A change that occurs in the body or in a bodily organ as a result of its functioning.
  4. Exertion of force or power.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: ac·tion
Pronunciation: 'ak-sh&n
Function: noun
1 : the process of exerting a force or bringing about an effect that resultsfrom the inherent capacity of an agent action> action> action of heroin is blocked by methadone>
2 : a function or the performance of a function of the body (as defecation) or of one of its parts actions of the bowel in 24hours —Morris Fishbein> action>
3 : an act of will
4 actions pl : BEHAVIOR actions>

Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: ac·tion
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin actio legal proceeding, from agere to do, carry out, initiate legal proceedings
1 a : ajudicial proceeding for the enforcement or protection of a right, the redress or prevention of a wrong, or the punishment of a public offense —compare special proceeding at PROCEEDING b : the right to bring or maintain such a legal or judicial proceeding
2 : an act ordecision by an executive or legislative body of a government (as an administrative agency) or of an organization (as a Board of Directors) <the power of courts to invalidate statutes and executiveactions —Railroad H. Bork>
3 : a voluntary act of will that manifests itself externally : a mode of conduct

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Action

Act\ ([a^]kt), n. [L. actus, fr. agere to drive, do: cf. F. acte. See Agent.]

1. That which is done or doing; the exercise of power, or the effect, of which power exerted is the cause; a performance; a deed.

That best portion of a good man's life, His little, nameless, unremembered acts Of kindness and of love. --Wordsworth. Hence, in specific uses: (a) The result of public deliberation; the decision or determination of a legislative body, council, court of justice, etc.; a decree, edit, law, judgment, resolve, award; as, an act of Parliament, or of Congress. (b) A formal solemn writing, expressing that something has been done. --Abbott. (c) A performance of part of a play; one of the principal divisions of a play or dramatic work in which a certain definite part of the action is completed. (d) A thesis maintained in public, in some English universities, by a candidate for a degree, or to show the proficiency of a student.

2. A state of reality or real existence as opposed to a possibility or possible existence. [Obs.]

The seeds of plants are not at first in act, but in possibility, what they afterward grow to be. --Hooker.

3. Process of doing; action. In act, in the very doing; on the point of (doing). "In act to shoot." --Dryden.

This woman was taken . . . in the very act. --John viii. 4.

Act of attainder. (Law) See Attainder.

Act of bankruptcy (Law), an act of a debtor which renders him liable to be adjudged a bankrupt.

Act of faith. (Ch. Hist.) See Auto-da-F['e].

Act of God (Law), an inevitable accident; such extraordinary interruption of the usual course of events as is not to be looked for in advance, and against which ordinary prudence could not guard.

Act of grace, an expression often used to designate an act declaring pardon or amnesty to numerous offenders, as at the beginning of a new reign.

Act of indemnity, a statute passed for the protection of those who have committed some illegal act subjecting them to penalties. --Abbott.

Act in pais, a thing done out of court (anciently, in the country), and not a matter of record.

Syn: See Action.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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American Heritage Abbreviations Dictionary 3rd Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
ACTION
American Council to Improve Our Neighborhoods

The American Heritage® Abbreviations Dictionary, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Acronym Finder - Cite This Source - Share This

ACTION

ACTION: in Acronym Finder

Acronym Finder, © 1988-2007 Mountain Data Systems
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On-line Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

action

action: in CancerWEB's On-line Medical Dictionary

On-line Medical Dictionary, © 1997-98 Academic Medical Publishing & CancerWEB
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