action
- action
- noun
Etymology: Middle English accioun, from Anglo-French accion, from Latin action-, actio, from agere to do — more at agent
Date: 14th century
1. the initiating of a proceeding in a court of justice by which one demands or enforces one's right; also the proceeding itself
2. the bringing about of an alteration by force or through a natural agency
3. the manner or method of performing:
a. an actor's or speaker's deportment or expression by means of attitude, voice, and gesture
b. the style of movement of the feet and legs (as of a horse)
c. a function of the body or one of its parts
4. an act of will
5.
a. a thing done ; deed
b. the accomplishment of a thing usually over a period of time, in stages, or with the possibility of repetition
c. plural behavior, conduct <
unscrupulous actions
>
d. initiative, enterprise <a man of action
>
6.
a.
(1) an engagement between troops or ships
(2) combat in war <gallantry in action
>
b.
(1) an event or series of events forming a literary composition
(2) the unfolding of the events of a drama or work of fiction ; plot
(3) the movement of incidents in a plot
c. the combination of circumstances that constitute the subject matter of a painting or sculpture
7.
a. an operating mechanism
b. the manner in which a mechanism or instrument operates
8.
a. the price movement and trading volume of a commodity, security, or market
b. the process of betting including the offering and acceptance of a bet and determination of a winner
c. financial gain or an opportunity for financial gain <a piece of the action
>
9. sexual activity
10. the most vigorous, productive, or exciting activity in a particular field, area, or group <they itch to go where the action is — D. J. Henahan
>
New Collegiate Dictionary.
2001.
:
Look at other dictionaries:
action — ac·tion n [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 … Law dictionary
action — ACTION. sub. f. L opération d un agent. L action du feu sur le bois. L action du Soleil sur les plantes. L action de l esprit. Le feu, par la violence de son action, vitrifie les métaux. Une action vive, soudaine, momentanée.Action, se dit aussi… … Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798
Action — may refer to:Music and culture* Action (philosophy), something a person can do * Action (music), a characteristic of a stringed instrument * Action (album), a 2004 album by Punchline * Action (B z album), a 2007 album by B z * Action (piano), the … Wikipedia
Action 52 — North American NES cover art. Developer(s) … Wikipedia
action — Action. s. f. Maniere dont une cause agit, & par laquelle elle produit son effet. L action du feu reduit le bois en cendres. Action, signifie aussi, Acte, fait, oeuvre. Bonne action. belle action. mauvaise action. vilaine action. action bien… … Dictionnaire de l'Académie française
Action! — was a programming language and integrated editor, debugger, and 6502 code generating compiler, editor for the Atari 8 bit family of microcomputers. Action! was created by Clinton Parker and released on cartridge by Optimized Systems Software in… … Wikipedia
Action — Ac tion, n. [OF. action, L. actio, fr. agere to do. See {Act}.] 1. A process or condition of acting or moving, as opposed to rest; the doing of something; exertion of power or force, as when one body acts on another; the effect of power exerted… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
action — et besongne, Pragma, Actio. Action et droit de poursuyvre en justice ce qui nous est deu, Actio. Action de grace, Gratulatio, Gratiarum actio. Action personnelle, Condictio, Actio in personam. Action réelle, Actio in rem. Action petitoire,… … Thresor de la langue françoyse
Action 52-in-1 — Action 52 Action 52 Éditeur Active Enterprises Développeur FarSight Studios (MD) Active Enterprises … Wikipédia en Français
action — 1 Action, act, deed agree in designating something done or effected. Action refers primarily to the process of acting; act and deed to the result, the thing done. An action is usually regarded as occupying some time and involving more than one… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
action — [ak′shən] n. [ME accion < OFr action < L actio < pp. of agere: see ACT1] 1. the doing of something; state of being in motion or of working 2. an act or thing done 3. [pl.] behavior; habitual conduct 4. habitual activity characterized by… … English World dictionary
