active definition | Dictionary.com

ac⋅tive

[ak-tiv]

–adjective

1.	engaged in action; characterized by energetic work, participation, etc.; busy: an active life.

2.	being in a state of existence, progress, or motion: active hostilities.

3.	involving physical effort and action: active sports.

4.	having the power of quick motion; nimble: active as a gazelle.

5.	characterized by action, motion, volume, use, participation, etc.: an active market in wheat; an active list of subscribers.

6.	causing activity or change; capable of exerting influence (opposed to passive ): active treason.

7.	effective (opposed to inert ): active ingredients.

8.	Grammar. noting or pertaining to a voice of verbal inflection in which typically the subject of the sentence is represented as performing the action expressed by the verb (opposed to passive ): Writes in He writes a letter every day is an active verb form.

9.	requiring or giving rise to action; practical: an active course.

10.	(of a volcano) in eruption.

11.	Accounting. profitable; busy: active accounts.

12.	requiring personal effort or attention; not automatic: an active alarm system.

13.	interest-bearing: active paper.

14.	Medicine/Medical. acting quickly; producing immediate effects: active remedies.

15.	Sociology. (of a crowd) engaging in purposeful activity, often of a militant nature. Compare expressive (def. 4).

16.	Aerospace. able to transmit signals: an active communications satellite.

17.	Electronics. (of a device or system) acting as a source of electrical energy, as a generator, or capable of amplifying or converting voltages or currents, as a transistor or diode.

18.	(of a solar heating system) accumulating and distributing solar heat by mechanical means.

19.	Military. serving on active duty.

–noun

20.

Grammar.

a.	the active voice.

b.	a form or construction in the active voice.

21.	an active person, member, subscriber, etc.: The circular was mailed only to the actives on our list.

22.	Informal. something showing considerable action or activity: On the stock market there was heavy trading in the actives.

Origin:
1300–50; < L āctīvus (see act, -ive ); r. ME actif < MF < L

Related forms:

ac⋅tive⋅ly, adverb

ac⋅tive⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. acting; working; operative. 3. Active, energetic, strenuous, vigorous imply a liveliness and briskness in accomplishing something. Active suggests quickness and diligence as opposed to laziness or dilatory methods: an active and useful person. Energetic suggests forceful and intense, sometimes nervous, activity: conducting an energetic campaign. Strenuous implies arduous and zealous activity with a sense of urgency: a strenuous effort. Vigorous suggests strong, effective activity: using vigorous measures to accomplish an end. 4. agile, sprightly.

Antonyms:
1. lazy. 5. sluggish.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To active

ac·tive (āk'tĭv)

adj.

Being in physical motion: active fish in the aquarium.
Functioning or capable of functioning.
1. Marked by energetic activity; busy: active stock and bond markets; spent an active day sightseeing.
2. Involving or requiring physical exertion and energy: an active workout at the gym.
3. Being in a state of action; not quiescent: active hostilities along the border.
4. Erupting or liable to erupt; not dormant: an active volcano.
5. Marked by or involving direct participation: took an active interest in politics; played an active role on the committee.
6. Currently in use or effect: an active membership.
7. Openly acknowledged or expressed: an active dislike of the new neighbors.
8. Indicating that the subject of the sentence is performing or causing the action expressed by the verb. Used of a verb form or voice.
9. Expressing action rather than a state of being. Used of verbs such as run, speak, and move.
10. Being a source of electrical energy, as a generator.
11. Capable of converting or amplifying voltages or currents, as a diode or transistor.
1. Being in a state of action; not quiescent: active hostilities along the border.
2. Erupting or liable to erupt; not dormant: an active volcano.
3. Marked by or involving direct participation: took an active interest in politics; played an active role on the committee.
4. Currently in use or effect: an active membership.
5. Openly acknowledged or expressed: an active dislike of the new neighbors.
6. Indicating that the subject of the sentence is performing or causing the action expressed by the verb. Used of a verb form or voice.
7. Expressing action rather than a state of being. Used of verbs such as run, speak, and move.
8. Being a source of electrical energy, as a generator.
9. Capable of converting or amplifying voltages or currents, as a diode or transistor.
1. Marked by or involving direct participation: took an active interest in politics; played an active role on the committee.
2. Currently in use or effect: an active membership.
3. Openly acknowledged or expressed: an active dislike of the new neighbors.
4. Indicating that the subject of the sentence is performing or causing the action expressed by the verb. Used of a verb form or voice.
5. Expressing action rather than a state of being. Used of verbs such as run, speak, and move.
6. Being a source of electrical energy, as a generator.
7. Capable of converting or amplifying voltages or currents, as a diode or transistor.
Producing an intended action or effect: active ingredients.
Grammar
1. Indicating that the subject of the sentence is performing or causing the action expressed by the verb. Used of a verb form or voice.
2. Expressing action rather than a state of being. Used of verbs such as run, speak, and move.
3. Being a source of electrical energy, as a generator.
4. Capable of converting or amplifying voltages or currents, as a diode or transistor.
Producing profit, interest, or dividends: active accounts; active stocks.
Electronics
1. Being a source of electrical energy, as a generator.
2. Capable of converting or amplifying voltages or currents, as a diode or transistor.
Being on full military duty and receiving full pay.

Grammar
1. The active voice.
2. A construction or form in the active voice.
A participating member of an organization: union actives.

[Middle English actif, from Old French, from Latin āctīvus, from āctus, past participle of agere, to drive, do; see ag- in Indo-European roots.]
ac'tive·ly adv., ac'tive·ness n.

Synonyms: These adjectives mean engaged in activity. Active means moving, doing, or functioning: an active toddler; an active imagination; saw active service in the army.
Energetic suggests sustained enthusiastic activity: an energetic competitor.
Dynamic connotes energy and forcefulness that often inspires others: a dynamic leader.
Vigorous implies healthy strength and robustness: a vigorous crusader against drunk driving.
Lively suggests animated alertness: a lively interest in politics.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Active

Ac"tive\, a. [F. actif, L. activus, fr. agere to act.]

1. Having the power or quality of acting; causing change; communicating action or motion; acting; -- opposed to passive, that receives; as, certain active principles; the powers of the mind.

2. Quick in physical movement; of an agile and vigorous body; nimble; as, an active child or animal.

Active and nervous was his gait. --Wordsworth.

3. In action; actually proceeding; working; in force; -- opposed to quiescent, dormant, or extinct; as, active laws; active hostilities; an active volcano.

4. Given to action; constantly engaged in action; energetic; diligent; busy; -- opposed to dull, sluggish, indolent, or inert; as, an active man of business; active mind; active zeal.

5. Requiring or implying action or exertion; -- opposed to sedentary or to tranquil; as, active employment or service; active scenes.

6. Given to action rather than contemplation; practical; operative; -- opposed to speculative or theoretical; as, an active rather than a speculative statesman.

7. Brisk; lively; as, an active demand for corn.

8. Implying or producing rapid action; as, an active disease; an active remedy.

9. (Gram.) (a) Applied to a form of the verb; -- opposed to passive. See Active voice, under Voice. (b) Applied to verbs which assert that the subject acts upon or affects something else; transitive. (c) Applied to all verbs that express action as distinct from mere existence or state.

Active capital, Active wealth, money, or property that may readily be converted into money.

Syn: Agile; alert; brisk; vigorous; nimble; lively; quick; sprightly; prompt; energetic.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : active

Spanish: activo,

German: aktiv,

Japanese: 活動的な

More Translations »

active

1340, from L. activus, from actus (see act). Activity is attested from 1530. Activism "a doctrine of advocating energetic action" is first attested 1920; activist in this sense is from 1915.

active

Of or relating to a security in which there is a great deal of trading. Active securities appeal to many investors because they usually can be traded without affecting the price. In over-the-counter trading, an active security usually has a smaller spread between the bid and ask price. See also most-active stocks.

Main Entry: ac·tive
Function: adjective
1 : characterized or accomplished by action or effort <active concealment> —compare PASSIVE
2 : engaged or participating in action or activity active parent>

Main Entry: ac·tive
Pronunciation: 'ak-tiv
Function: adjective
1 : capable of acting or reacting especially in some specific way active enzyme> <active nitrogen>
2 : tending to progress or to cause degeneration <active tuberculosis>
3 : exhibitingoptical activity
4 : requiring the expenditure of energy <active absorptive mechanisms for transporting substances from the intestine into the blood> —ac·tive·ly adverb

ACTIVE
advanced controls technology for integrated vehicles

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