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effort

9 dictionary results for: effort

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

ef·fort

[ef-ert] Pronunciation Key

–noun

1.	exertion of physical or mental power: It will take great effort to achieve victory.

2.	an earnest or strenuous attempt: an effort to keep to the schedule.

3.	something done by exertion or hard work: I thought it would be easy, but it was an effort.

4.	an achievement, as in literature or art: The painting is one of his finest efforts.

5.	the amount of exertion expended for a specified purpose: the war effort.

Chiefly British.

a.	an organized community drive or achievement.

b.	a fund-raising drive.

7.	Mechanics. the force or energy that is applied to a machine for the accomplishment of useful work.

[Origin: 1480–90; < MF; OF esfort, esforz, deriv. of esforcier to force (es- ex-¹ + forcier to force)

]

—Synonyms 1. struggle, striving. Effort, application, endeavor, exertion imply actions directed or force expended toward a definite end. Effort is an expenditure of energy to accomplish some objective: He made an effort to control himself. Application is continuous effort plus careful attention: constant application to duties. Endeavor means a continued and sustained series of efforts to achieve some, often worthy and difficult, end: a constant endeavor to be useful. Exertion is the vigorous and often strenuous expenditure of energy, frequently without an end: out of breath from exertion.

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

ef·fort (ěf'ərt) Pronunciation Key
n.

The use of physical or mental energy to do something; exertion.
A difficult exertion of the strength or will: It was an effort to get up.
A usually earnest attempt: Make an effort to arrive promptly.
Something done or produced through exertion; an achievement: a play that was his finest effort.
Physics Force applied against inertia.

[Middle English, from Old French esfort, from esforcier, to force, exert, from Medieval Latin exfortiāre : Latin ex-, ex- + Latin fortis, strong; see bhergh-² in Indo-European roots.]

ef'fort·ful adj., ef'fort·ful·ly adv.

(Download Now or Buy the Book)
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
effort

c.1489, from M.Fr. effort, noun of action from O.Fr. esforz, from esforcier "force out, exert oneself," from V.L. *exfortiare "to show strength," from L. ex- "out" + fortis "strong."

"Effort is only effort when it begins to hurt." [Ortega y Gasset, 1949]

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

effort
noun
1.	earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something; "made an effort to cover all the reading material"; "wished him luck in his endeavor"; "she gave it a good try" [syn: attempt]
2.	use of physical or mental energy; hard work; "he got an A for effort"; "they managed only with great exertion"
3.	a notable achievement; "he performed a great feat"; "the book was her finest effort" [syn: feat]
4.	a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end; "he supported populist campaigns"; "they worked in the cause of world peace"; "the team was ready for a drive toward the pennant"; "the movement to end slavery"; "contributed to the war effort" [syn: campaign]

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American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

effort

see all out (effort); last-ditch effort.

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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The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

effort (ěf'ərt) Pronunciation Key

Force applied against inertia.
The force needed by a machine in order to accomplish work on a load. Compare load.

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U.S. Gazetteer - Cite This Source - Share This

Effort, PA Zip code(s): 18330

U.S. Gazetteer, U.S. Census Bureau

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

Effort

Ef"fort\, n. [F. effort, OF. esfort, for esfors, esforz, fr. esforcier. See Efforce.]

1. An exertion of strength or power, whether physical or mental, in performing an act or aiming at an object; more or less strenuous endeavor; struggle directed to the accomplishment of an object; as, an effort to scale a wall.

We prize the stronger effort of his power. --Pope.

2. (Mech.) A force acting on a body in the direction of its motion. --Rankine.

Syn: Endeavor; exertion; struggle; strain; straining; attempt; trial; essay. See Attempt.

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

Effort

Ef"fort\, v. t. To stimulate. [Obs.] "He efforted his spirits." --Fuller.

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