agent

[[t]e͟ɪʤənt[/t]]

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agents

1) N-COUNT An agent is a person who looks after someone else's business affairs or does business on their behalf.

→ See also , press agent, travel agent

You are buying direct, rather than through an agent.

...a written declaration by someone, authorizing another person to act as his agent.

Syn:

representative, rep

2) N-COUNT An agent in the arts world is a person who gets work for an actor or musician, or who sells the work of a writer to publishers.

3) N-COUNT An agent is a person who works for a country's secret service.

All these years he's been an agent for the East.

4) N-COUNT: N of n If you refer to someone or something as the agent of a particular effect, you mean that they cause this effect.

In many societies young men regard themselves as highly active, the agents of change, shapers of the world.

Syn:

instrument

5) N-COUNT: supp N A chemical that has a particular effect or is used for a particular purpose can be referred to as a particular kind of agent.

...the bleaching agent in white flour.

...fibrinogen, a blood clotting agent.