Scrabble Dictionary

Yes

Meaning of act

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1 definition found

From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:

  act
      n 1: a legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a
           committee or society or legislative body [syn: {act},
           {enactment}]
      2: something that people do or cause to happen [syn: {act},
         {deed}, {human action}, {human activity}]
      3: a subdivision of a play or opera or ballet
      4: 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" [syn: {act}, {routine}, {number}, {turn}, {bit}]
      5: a manifestation of insincerity; "he put on quite an act for
         her benefit"
      v 1: 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" [syn: {act}, {move}] [ant: {forbear},
           {refrain}]
      2: 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" [syn:
         {act}, {behave}, {do}]
      3: 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" [syn: {act},
         {play}, {represent}]
      4: discharge one's duties; "She acts as the chair"; "In what
         capacity are you acting?"
      5: pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind; "He acted
         the idiot"; "She plays deaf when the news are bad" [syn:
         {act}, {play}, {act as}]
      6: be suitable for theatrical performance; "This scene acts
         well"
      7: 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" [syn: {work},
         {act}]
      8: be engaged in an activity, often for no particular purpose
         other than pleasure
      9: behave unnaturally or affectedly; "She's just acting" [syn:
         {dissemble}, {pretend}, {act}]
      10: perform on a stage or theater; "She acts in this play"; "He
          acted in `Julius Caesar'"; "I played in `A Christmas Carol'"
          [syn: {act}, {play}, {roleplay}, {playact}]

WordNet ® Princeton University. http://wordnet.princeton.edu