| an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance. |
| a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
act (ækt) ![]() | |
| —n | |
| 1. | something done or performed; a deed |
| 2. | the performance of some physical or mental process; action |
| 3. | (capital when part of a name) the formally codified result of deliberation by a legislative body; a law, edict, decree, statute, etc |
| 4. | (often plural) a formal written record of transactions, proceedings, etc, as of a society, committee, or legislative body |
| 5. | a major division of a dramatic work |
| 6. | a. a short performance of skill, a comic sketch, dance, etc, esp one that is part of a programme of light entertainment |
| b. those giving such a performance | |
| 7. | an assumed attitude or pose, esp one intended to impress |
| 8. | philosophy Compare event an occurrence effected by the volition of a human agent, usually opposed at least as regards its explanation to one which is causally determined |
| —vb (foll by as) | |
| 9. | (intr) to do something; carry out an action |
| 10. | (intr) to function in a specified way; operate; react: his mind acted quickly |
| 11. | to perform (a part or role) in a play, etc |
| 12. | (tr) to present (a play, etc) on stage |
| 13. | (intr; |
| 14. | to serve the function or purpose (of): the glass acted as protection |
| 15. | (intr) to conduct oneself or behave (as if one were): she usually acts like a lady |
| 16. | (intr) to behave in an unnatural or affected way |
| 17. | (copula) to pose as; play the part of: to act the fool |
| 18. | (copula) to behave in a manner appropriate to (esp in the phrase act one's age) |
| 19. | not standard (copula) to seem or pretend to be: to act tired |
| 20. | clean up one's act to start to behave in a responsible manner |
| 21. | informal get in on the act to become involved in a profitable undertaking or advantageous situation in order to share in the benefits |
| 22. | informal get one's act together to become organized or prepared |
| [C14: from Latin actus a doing, performance, and actum a thing done, from the past participle of agere to do] | |
| 'actable | |
| —adj | |
| acta'bility | |
| —n | |
| ACT1 | |
| —abbreviation for | |
| 1. | Australian Capital Territory |
| 2. | (formerly in Britain) advance corporation tax |
ACT
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