response

[ ri-spons ]
See synonyms for: responseresponses on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. an answer or reply, as in words or in some action.

  2. Biology. any behavior of a living organism that results from an external or internal stimulus.

  1. Ecclesiastical.

    • a verse, sentence, phrase, or word said or sung by the choir or congregation in reply to the officiant.: Compare versicle (def. 2).

  2. Bridge. a bid based on an evaluation of one's hand relative to the previous bid of one's partner.

Origin of response

1
First recorded in 1250–1300; from Latin respōnsum, noun use of neuter past participle of respondēre “to reply, answer”; replacing Middle English respounse, from Middle French respons, from Latin, as above; see respond

synonym study For response

1. See answer.

Other words for response

Other words from response

  • re·sponse·less, adjective
  • coun·ter·re·sponse, noun

Words Nearby response

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use response in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for response

response

/ (rɪˈspɒns) /


noun
  1. the act of responding; reply or reaction

  2. bridge a bid replying to a partner's bid or double

  1. (usually plural) Christianity a short sentence or phrase recited or sung by the choir or congregation in reply to the officiant at a church service

  2. electronics the ratio of the output to the input level, at a particular frequency, of a transmission line or electrical device

  3. any pattern of glandular, muscular, or electrical reactions that arises from stimulation of the nervous system

Origin of response

1
C14: from Latin rēsponsum answer, from rēspondēre to respond

Derived forms of response

  • responseless, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for response

response

[ rĭ-spŏns ]


  1. A reaction, as that of an organism or any of its parts, to a specific stimulus. See more at classical conditioning.

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