n. a nonverbal reaction; "his answer to any problem was to get drunk"; "their answer was to sue me"

n. the principal pleading by the defendant in response to plaintiff's complaint; in criminal law it consists of the defendant's plea of `guilty' or `not guilty' (or nolo contendere); in civil law it must contain denials of all allegations in the plaintiff's complaint that the defendant hopes to controvert and it can contain affirmative defenses or counterclaims

n. the speech act of replying to a question

n. [a reply to a question or request]

v. understand the meaning of; "The question concerning the meaning of life cannot be answered"

v. give the correct answer or solution to; "answer a question"; "answer the riddle"

v. react to a stimulus or command; "The steering of my new car answers to the slightest touch"

v. respond to a signal; "answer the door"; "answer the telephone"

v. give a defence or refutation of (a charge) or in (an argument); "The defendant answered to all the charges of the prosecution"

v. react verbally; "She didn't want to answer"; "answer the question"; "We answered that we would accept the invitation"

v. be satisfactory for; meet the requirements of or serve the purpose of; "This may answer her needs"

v. match or correspond; "The drawing of the suspect answers to the description the victim gave"

v. be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity; "A few words would answer"; "This car suits my purpose well"; "Will $100 do?"; "A 'B' grade doesn't suffice to get me into medical school"; "Nothing else will serve"