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piece of the action

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ac⋅tion

  [ak-shuhn]
Use piece of the action in a Sentence
–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
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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piece   (pēs)   
n.  

  1. A thing considered as a unit or an element of a larger thing, quantity, or class; a portion: a piece of string.

  2. A portion or part that has been separated from a whole: a piece of cake.

  3. An object that is one member of a group or class: a piece of furniture.

  4. An artistic, musical, or literary work or composition: "They are lively and well-plotted pieces, both in prose" (Tucker Brooke).

  5. An instance; a specimen: a piece of sheer folly.

  6. A declaration of one's opinions or findings: speak one's piece.

  7. A coin: a ten-cent piece.

  8. Games

    1. One of the counters or figures used in playing various board games.

    2. Any one of the chess figures other than a pawn.

  9. Slang A firearm, especially a rifle.

  10. Informal A given distance: "There was farm country down the road on the right a piece" (James Agee).

  11. Vulgar Slang A sexually attractive person.

tr.v.   pieced, piec·ing, piec·es

  1. To mend by adding pieces or a piece to.

  2. To join or unite the pieces of: He pieced together the vase. She pieced together an account of what had gone on during the stormy meeting.


[Middle English pece, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *pettia, probably of Celtic origin.]
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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Slang Dictionary
action

  1. n.
    excitement; activity in general; whatever is happening. : This place is dull. I want some action!
  2. n.
    a share of something; a share of the winnings or of the booty. (See also piece (of the action).) : I did my share of the work, and I want my share of the action.
  3. n.
    sex; copulation. : All those guys are just trying for a little action.
  4. n.
    illegal activity; commerce in drugs; acts of crime. (Underworld.) : Things have been a little slow here, but there's some action on the East Coast.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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piece (of the action)

and bit of the action; slice of the action
  1. n.
    a share in the activity or the profits. (Especially gambling activity.) : Don't be selfish. Give me a slice of the action. , I helped! I want a bit of the action.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Word Origin & History

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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Legal Dictionary

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
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

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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Medical Dictionary

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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Idioms & Phrases

piece of the action

A share in an activity or in the profits, as in They wanted a piece of the action in this land deal. [Slang; mid-1900s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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