n. a subdivision of a play or opera or ballet

n. a manifestation of insincerity; "he put on quite an act for her benefit"

n. something done (usually as opposed to something said); "there were stories of murders and other unnatural actions"

n. a legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body

n. a written account of ownership or obligation

n. (psychology) the performance of some composite cognitive activity; an operation that affects mental contents; "the process of thinking"; "the cognitive operation of remembering"

n. a short theatrical performance that is part of a longer program; "he did his act three times every evening"; "she had a catchy little routine"; "it was one of the best numbers he ever did"

v. discharge one's duties; "She acts as the chair"; "In what capacity are you acting?"

v. behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself; "You should act like an adult"; "Don't behave like a fool"; "What makes her do this way?"; "The dog acts ferocious, but he is really afraid of people"

v. have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected; "The voting process doesn't work as well as people thought"; "How does your idea work in practice?"; "This method doesn't work"; "The breaks of my new car act quickly"; "The medicine works only if you take it with a lot of water"

v. pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind; "He acted the idiot"; "She plays deaf when the news are bad"

v. play a role or part; "Gielgud played Hamlet"; "She wants to act Lady Macbeth, but she is too young for the role"; "She played the servant to her husband's master"

v. perform on a stage or theater; "She acts in this play"; "He acted in `Julius Caesar'"; "I played in `A Christmas Carol'"

v. perform as expected when applied; "The washing machine won't go unless it's plugged in"; "Does this old car still run well?"; "This old radio doesn't work anymore"

v. perform an action, or work out or perform (an action); "think before you act"; "We must move quickly"; "The governor should act on the new energy bill"; "The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel"

adv. "He was easily confused"; "This kind of china breaks easily"

adv. without taking pains; "he looked cursorily through the magazine"

adv. with little or no delay; "the rescue squad arrived promptly"; "come here, quick!"

adv. with rapid movements; "he works quickly"

n. (game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession; "it is my turn"; "it is still my play"

n. (law) the acts performed by an English feudal tenant for the benefit of his lord which formed the consideration for the property granted to him

n. a notable achievement; "he performed a great deed"; "the book was her finest effort"

n. earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something; "made an effort to cover all the reading material"; "wished him luck in his endeavor"; "she gave it a good try"

n. a notable achievement; "he performed a great deed"; "the book was her finest effort"

n. the act of performing; of doing something successfully; using knowledge as distinguished from merely possessing it; "they criticised his performance as mayor"; "experience generally improves performance"

n. the act of committing a crime

n. putting a condemned person to death

n. a certificate of debt (usually interest-bearing or discounted) that is issued by a government or corporation in order to raise money; the issuer is required to pay a fixed sum annually until maturity and then a fixed sum to repay the principal

n. a security pledged for the repayment of a loan

n. a formal declaration that documents a fact of relevance to finance and investment; the holder has a right to receive interest or dividends; "he held several valuable securities"

n. a superior paper resembling sheepskin

n. the form of a literary work submitted for publication

n. a list of names; "his name was struck off the rolls"

n. a verbal or written request for assistance or employment or admission to a school; "December 31 is the deadline for applications"

n. earnest or urgent request; "an entreaty to stop the fighting"; "an appeal for help"; "an appeal to the public to keep calm"

n. a written document describing the findings of some individual or group; "this accords with the recent study by Hill and Dale"

n. a social event involving a public performance or entertainment; "they wanted to see some of the shows on Broadway"

n. representation of something (sometimes on a smaller scale)

v. make a strenuous or labored effort; "She struggled for years to survive without welfare"; "He fought for breath"

v. attempt by employing effort; "we endeavor to make our customers happy"

v. to exert much effort or energy; "straining our ears to hear"

v. work hard; "She was digging away at her math homework"; "Lexicographers drudge all day long"

v. have a celebration; "They were feting the patriarch of the family"; "After the exam, the students were celebrating"

v. behave well or properly; "The children must learn to behave"

v. perform a function; "Who will perform the wedding?"

v. perform as expected when applied; "The washing machine won't go unless it's plugged in"; "Does this old car still run well?"; "This old radio doesn't work anymore"

v. behave in a certain manner; "She carried herself well"; "he bore himself with dignity"; "They conducted themselves well during these difficult times"

v. fake or falsify; "Fudge the figures"; "cook the books"; "falsify the data"

v. make a copy of with the intent to deceive; "he faked the signature"; "they counterfeited dollar bills"; "She forged a Green Card"

v. reproduce someone's behavior or looks; "The mime imitated the passers-by"; "Children often copy their parents or older siblings"

v. alter with the intention to deceive

v. change the inherent purpose or function of something; "Don't abuse the system"; "The director of the factory misused the funds intended for the health care of his workers"

v. cause to happen, occur or exist; "This procedure produces a curious effect"; "The new law gave rise to many complaints"; "These chemicals produce a noxious vapor"; "the new President must bring about a change in the health care system"

v. appear as a character on stage or appear in a play, etc.; "Gielgud appears briefly in this movie"; "She appeared in `Hamlet' on the London stage"

v. put into dramatic form; "adopt a book for a screenplay"

v. give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect; "She seems to be sleeping"; "This appears to be a very difficult problem"; "This project looks fishy"; "They appeared like people who had not eaten or slept for a long time"

v. come into sight or view; "He suddenly appeared at the wedding"; "A new star appeared on the horizon"

v. behave well or properly; "The children must learn to behave"

v. be in charge of or deal with; "She takes care of all the necessary arrangements"

v. come to terms or deal successfully with; "We got by on just a gallon of gas"; "They made do on half a loaf of bread every day"

v. have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected; "The voting process doesn't work as well as people thought"; "How does your idea work in practice?"; "This method doesn't work"; "The breaks of my new car act quickly"; "The medicine works only if you take it with a lot of water"

v. behave in a certain manner; "She carried herself well"; "he bore himself with dignity"; "They conducted themselves well during these difficult times"

v. perform a function; "Who will perform the wedding?"

v. direct or control; projects, businesses, etc.; "She is running a relief operation in the Sudan"

v. act in an official capacity in a ceremony or religious ritual, such as a wedding; "Who officiated at your wedding?"

v. be in charge of, act on, or dispose of; "I can deal with this crew of workers"; "This blender can't handle nuts"; "She managed her parents' affairs after they got too old"

v. break from a meeting or gathering; "We adjourned for lunch"; "The men retired to the library"

v. restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken; "She repaired her TV set"; "Repair my shoes please"

v. sound with a monotonous hum

v. progress by being changed; "The speech has to go through several more drafts"; "run through your presentation before the meeting"

v. cause to move, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense; "Move those boxes into the corner, please"; "I'm moving my money to another bank"; "The director moved more responsibilities onto his new assistant"

v. speak softly or indistinctly; "She murmured softly to the baby in her arms"

adv. with rapid movements; "he works quickly"

adv. quickly and without warning; "he stopped suddenly"

adv. "He sent his ambassadors hurriedly along."

adv. "Send it to me post-haste"

adv. with little or no delay; "the rescue squad arrived promptly"; "come here, quick!"

v. make itself felt as a recurring pain; "My arthritis is acting up again"

v. be a success; "The idea panned out"

v. carry further or advance; "Can you act on this matter soon?"

v. misbehave badly; act in a silly or improper way; "The children acted up when they were not bored"

v. have and exert influence or effect; "The artist's work influenced the young painter"; "She worked on her friends to support the political candidate"

n. a lavishly produced performance; "they put on a Christmas spectacular"

v. fail to function or function improperly; "the coffee maker malfunctioned"

v. resist doing something; "He refrained from hitting him back"; "she could not forbear weeping"