Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

ac·tion       (āk'shən)  Pronunciation Key  n.   The state or process of acting or doing: The medical team went into action. Something done or accomplished; a deed. See Usage Note at act. Organized activity to accomplish an objective: a problem requiring drastic action. 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. A movement or a series of movements, as of an actor. Manner of movement: a horse with fine action. Habitual or vigorous activity; energy: a woman of action. Behavior or conduct. Often used in the plural. The operating parts of a mechanism. The manner in which such parts operate. The manner in which a musical instrument can be played; playability: a piano with quick action. Armed encounter; combat: missing in action. An engagement between troops or ships: fought a rear-guard action. The series of events and episodes that form the plot of a story or play. The appearance of animation of a figure in painting or sculpture. Law A judicial proceeding whose purpose is to obtain relief at the hands of a court. Armed encounter; combat: missing in action. An engagement between troops or ships: fought a rear-guard action. 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.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
action 

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]

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.

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.

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 : a judicial 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 or decision by an executive or legislative body of a government (as an administrative agency) or of an organization (as a Board of Directors) actions —Railroad H. Bork>
3 : a voluntary act of will that manifests itself externally : a mode of conduct

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Action

Ac"tion\, n. [OF. action, L. actio, fr. agere to do. See Act.]

1. A process or condition of acting or moving, as opposed to rest; the doing of something; exertion of power or force, as when one body acts on another; the effect of power exerted on one body by another; agency; activity; operation; as, the action of heat; a man of action.

One wise in council, one in action brave. --Pope.

2. An act; a thing done; a deed; an enterprise. (pl.): Habitual deeds; hence, conduct; behavior; demeanor.

The Lord is a Good of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. --1 Sam. ii. 3.

3. The event or connected series of events, either real or imaginary, forming the subject of a play, poem, or other composition; the unfolding of the drama of events.

4. Movement; as, the horse has a spirited action.

5. (Mech.) Effective motion; also, mechanism; as, the breech action of a gun.

6. (Physiol.) Any one of the active processes going on in an organism; the performance of a function; as, the action of the heart, the muscles, or the gastric juice.

7. (Orat.) Gesticulation; the external deportment of the speaker, or the suiting of his attitude, voice, gestures, and countenance, to the subject, or to the feelings.

8. (Paint. & Sculp.) The attitude or position of the several parts of the body as expressive of the sentiment or passion depicted.

9. (Law) (a) A suit or process, by which a demand is made of a right in a court of justice; in a broad sense, a judicial proceeding for the enforcement or protection of a right, the redress or prevention of a wrong, or the punishment of a public offense. (b) A right of action; as, the law gives an action for every claim.

10. (Com.) A share in the capital stock of a joint-stock company, or in the public funds; hence, in the plural, equivalent to stocks. [A Gallicism] [Obs.]

The Euripus of funds and actions. --Burke.

11. An engagement between troops in war, whether on land or water; a battle; a fight; as, a general action, a partial action.

12. (Music) The mechanical contrivance by means of which the impulse of the player's finger is transmitted to the strings of a pianoforte or to the valve of an organ pipe. --Grove.

Chose in action. (Law) See Chose.

Quantity of action (Physics), the product of the mass of a body by the space it runs through, and its velocity.

Syn: Action, Act.

Usage: In many cases action and act are synonymous; but some distinction is observable. Action involves the mode or process of acting, and is usually viewed as occupying some time in doing. Act has more reference to the effect, or the operation as complete.

To poke the fire is an act, to reconcile friends who have quarreled is a praiseworthy action. --C. J. Smith.

American Heritage Abbreviations Dictionary 3rd Edition - Cite This Source - Share This

ACTION American Council to Improve Our Neighborhoods