answer

answer
[[t]ɑ͟ːnsə(r), æ̱n-[/t]]
answers, answering, answered
1) VERB When you answer someone who has asked you something, you say something back to them.

[V n] I knew Ben was lying when he answered me...

[V n] Just answer the question...

He paused before answering...

[V with quote] `When?' asked Alba, `Tonight', answered Tom...

[V that] Williams answered that he had no specific proposals yet.

Syn:
reply, respond
2) N-COUNT: also in N to n An answer is something that you say when you answer someone.

Without waiting for an answer, he turned and went in through the door...

I don't quite know what to say in answer to your question.

Syn:
reply, response
3) PHRASE: with brd-neg If you say that someone will not take no for an answer, you mean that they go on trying to make you agree to something even after you have refused.

She is tough, unwilling to take no for an answer...

He would never take no for an answer.

4) VERB If you answer a letter or advertisement, you write to the person who wrote it.

[V n] Did he answer your letter?...

[V n] She answered an advert for a job as a cook. [Also V]

Syn:
reply to
5) N-COUNT: also in N to n An answer is a letter that you write to someone who has written to you.

I wrote to him but I never had an answer back...

She wrote to Roosevelt's secretary in answer to his letter of the day before.

Syn:
reply, response
6) VERB When you answer the telephone, you pick it up when it rings. When you answer the door, you open it when you hear a knock or the bell.

[V n] She answered her phone on the first ring...

[V n] A middle-aged woman answered the door. [Also V]

N-COUNT: usu sing
Answer is also a noun.

I knocked at the front door and there was no answer.

7) N-COUNT: oft N to n An answer to a problem is a solution to it.

There are no easy answers to the problems facing the economy...

Prison is not the answer for most young offenders...

Legislation is only part of the answer.

8) N-COUNT: oft N to n Someone's answer to a question in a test or quiz is what they write or say in an attempt to give the facts that are asked for. The answer to a question is the fact that was asked for.

Simply marking an answer wrong will not help the pupil to get future examples correct...

Below are printed the answers to the Brain of Soccer 1993 quiz.

9) VERB When you answer a question in a test or quiz, you write or say something in an attempt to give the facts that are asked for.

[V n] To obtain her degree, she answered 81 questions over 10 papers.

10) N-COUNT: also in N to n Your answer to something that someone has said or done is what you say or do in response to it or in defence of yourself.

In answer to speculation that she wouldn't finish the race, she boldly declared her intention of winning it.

Syn:
reply, response
11) VERB If you answer something that someone has said or done, you respond to it.

[V n with n] He answered her smile with one of his own...

[V n] That statement seemed designed to answer criticism of allied bombing missions. [Also V n by -ing]

Syn:
12) N-SING: poss N to n If you say that something is a place's answer to a famous thing, you mean that the first thing is the equivalent of the second in that place. [JOURNALISM]

Cachaca is Brazil's answer to tequila.

13) VERB If something answers a need or purpose, it satisfies it, because it has the right qualities.

[V n] We must ensure we answer real needs.

Syn:
14) VERB If someone or something answers a particular description or answers to it, they have the characteristics described.

[V n] Two men answering the description of the suspects tried to enter Switzerland...

[V to n] The Japanese never built any aircraft remotely answering to this description.

Phrasal Verbs:
Syn:

English dictionary. 2008.

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Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • answer — an·swer 1 n 1: the defendant s written response to the plaintiff s complaint in a civil suit in which he or she may deny any of plaintiff s allegations, offer any defenses, and make any counterclaims against the plaintiff, cross claims against… …   Law dictionary

  • answer — n reply, response, rejoinder, retort (see under ANSWER vb 1) Analogous words: defense, vindication, justification (see corresponding verbs at MAINTAIN): refutation, rebuttal (see corresponding verbs at DISPROVE) Contrasted words: question, query …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • answer to — 1. To give an indication of accepting as one s name 2. To have as one s name (informal) 3. To be accountable to • • • Main Entry: ↑answer * * * answer to (the name of) often humorous be called …   Useful english dictionary

  • Answer — An swer ([a^]n s[ e]r), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Answered} ([a^]n s[ e]rd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Answering}.] [OE. andswerien, AS. andswerian, andswarian, to answer, fr. andswaru, n., answer. See {Answer}, n.] 1. To speak in defense against; to reply to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • answer — [an′sər, än′sər] n. [ME andsware < OE andswaru < and , against + swerian, SWEAR] 1. something said or written in return to a question, argument, letter, etc. 2. any act in response or retaliation [his answer was a well aimed blow] 3. one… …   English World dictionary

  • Answer — An swer, v. i. 1. To speak or write by way of return (originally, to a charge), or in reply; to make response. [1913 Webster] There was no voice, nor any that answered. 1 Kings xviii. 26. [1913 Webster] 2. To make a satisfactory response or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Answer — An swer, n. [OE. andsware, AS. andswaru; and against + swerian to swear. [root]177, 196. See {Anti }, and {Swear}, and cf. 1st {un }.] 1. A reply to a charge; a defense. [1913 Webster] At my first answer no man stood with me. 2 Tim. iv. 16. [1913 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Answer Me — is a popular song, originally written (with German lyrics, under the title Mutterlein ) by Gerhard Winkler and Fred Rauch. The English lyrics were written by Carl Sigman in 1952. After the song was recorded by David Whitfield and Frankie Laine in …   Wikipedia

  • Answer —  Pour l’article homonyme, voir The Answer.  Answer est un film américain indépendant réalisé par Spike Lee en 1980. Fiche technique Réalisation : Spike Lee Pays  …   Wikipédia en Français

  • answer to — a person or thing regarded as the equivalent to a better known one from another place: → answer answer to be responsible or report to. → answer …   English new terms dictionary

  • answer — [n] reply; reaction acknowledgment, antiphon, backcap*, back talk, band aid*, close, comeback, comment, cooler*, counterclaim, crack, defense, disclosure, echo, elucidation, explanation, feedback, guff*, interpretation, justification, key, lip*,… …   New thesaurus

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