action
- action
- [[t]æ̱kʃ(ə)n[/t]]
♦
actions
1) N-UNCOUNT: usu with supp Action is doing something for a particular purpose.
The government is taking emergency action to deal with a housing crisis...
What was needed, he said, was decisive action to halt what he called these savage crimes.
2) N-COUNT An action is something that you do on a particular occasion.
As always, Peter had a reason for his action...
Jack was the sort of man who did not like his actions questioned.
3) N-COUNT To bring a legal action against someone means to bring a case against them in a court of law. [LEGAL]
Two leading law firms are to prepare legal actions against tobacco companies.
...a libel action brought by one of France's bureaucrats.
Syn:
,
4) N-UNCOUNT The action of a chemical is the way in which it works, or the effects that it has.
Her description of the nature and action of poisons is amazingly accurate.
5) N-SING: the N The action is all the important and exciting things that are happening in a situation. [INFORMAL]
Hollywood is where the action is now.
6) N-UNCOUNT: oft in N The fighting which takes place in a war can be referred to as action.
Leaders in America have generally supported military action if it proves necessary...
13 soldiers were killed and 10 wounded in action.
7)
ADJ: ADJ
n An
action movie is a film in which a lot of dangerous and exciting things happen. An
action hero is the main character in one of these films.
Stallone wants to break away from his action-hero image.
8)
PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after
v If someone or something is
out of action, they are injured or damaged and cannot work or be used.
He's been out of action for 16 months with a serious knee injury...
They were trapped after the lifts went out of action.
9) PHRASE If someone wants to have a piece of the action or a slice of the action, they want to take part in an exciting activity or situation, usually in order to make money or become more important.
Holiday spots have seen a dramatic revival and tourist chiefs are competing for a slice of the action.
10)
PHRASE: V inflects If you
put an idea or policy
into action, you begin to use it or cause it to operate.
They have excelled in learning the lessons of business management theory, and putting them into action.
English dictionary.
2008.
:
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
