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react

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re-act

[ree-akt]
–verb (used with object)
to act or perform again.

Origin:
1650–60; re- + act

re⋅act

[ree-akt]
–verb (used without object)
1. to act in response to an agent or influence: How did the audience react to the speech?
2. to act reciprocally upon each other, as two things.
3. to act in a reverse direction or manner, esp. so as to return to a prior condition.
4. to act in opposition, as against some force.
5. to respond to a stimulus in a particular manner: reacting to a shock by jumping; to react to the word “coward” with anger.
6. to undergo a chemical reaction.

Origin:
1635–45; re- + act, prob. modeled on ML reagere
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To react
re·act   (rē-ākt')   
v.   re·act·ed, re·act·ing, re·acts

v.   intr.
  1. To act in response to or under the influence of a stimulus or prompting: reacted strongly to the sarcastic tone of the memorandum.

  2. To act in opposition to a former condition or act: composers who reacted against romanticism.

  3. To act reciprocally or in return.

  4. Chemistry To undergo a reaction: Methane reacts with hydroxyl to produce formaldehyde.

v.   tr. Chemistry
To cause (a substance or substances) to undergo a reaction.
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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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: re·act
Pronunciation: rE-'akt
Function: intransitive verb
1 : to respond to a stimulus
2 : to undergochemical reaction react transitive senses
: to cause to react <react a base and an acid to form a salt>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

react re·act (rē-ākt')
v. re·act·ed, re·act·ing, re·acts

  1. To act in response to a stimulus.

  2. To undergo a chemical reaction.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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