HyperDic: action

English > 12 senses of the word action:
NOUNactactionsomething done (usually as opposed to something said)
stateaction, activity, activenessthe state of being active
actaction, military actiona military engagement
processaction, natural process, natural action, activitya process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings)
communicationactionthe series of events that form a plot
attributeactionthe trait of being active and energetic / energetic and forceful
artifactaction, action mechanismthe operating part that transmits power to a mechanism
actaction, legal action, action at lawa judicial proceeding brought by one party against another
actactionan act by a government body or supranational organization
actactionthe most important or interesting work or activity in a specific area or field
VERBsocialaction, sue, litigate, processinstitute legal proceedings against
creationaction, carry through, accomplish, execute, carry out, fulfill, fulfilput in effect
action > pronunciation
Soundsae'kshahn
RhymesAachen ... Zukerman: 2572 rhymes with ahn...
English > action: 12 senses > noun 1, act
MeaningSomething done (usually as opposed to something said).
Example"there were stories of murders and other unnatural actions"
Narroweraccomplishment, achievementThe action of accomplishing something
aggression, hostilityviolent action that is hostile and usually unprovoked
alienationThe action of alienating
applicationThe action of putting something into operation
arrivalThe act of arriving at a certain place
beatificationThe action of rendering supremely blessed / blessed and extremely happy
bruxisminvoluntarily or unconsciously clenching or grinding the teeth, typically during sleep
changeThe action of changing something
choice, selection, option, pickThe act of choosing or selecting
course, course of actionA mode of action
destabilization, destabilisationThe action of destabilizing
economy, savingAn act of economizing
emphasizing, accenting, accentuationThe act of giving special importance or significance to something
employment, engagementThe act of giving someone a job
exerciseAn action, often used negatively and without consequences
fetchThe action of fetching
interactionA mutual or reciprocal action
jumpstart, jump-startstarting an automobile engine that has a weak battery by means of jumper cables to another car
kindness, benignityA kind act
performance, execution, carrying out, carrying into actionThe act of performing
pickings, takingThe act of someone who picks up or takes something
play, swordplayThe act using a sword (or other weapon) vigorously and skillfully
playingThe action of taking part in a game / game / game or sport or other recreation
politeness, civilityThe act of showing regard for others
prohibition, inhibition, forbiddanceThe action of prohibiting or inhibiting or forbidding (or an instance thereof)
reference, consultationThe act of referring or consulting
res gestaethings done
resistance, oppositionThe action of opposing something that you disapprove or disagree with
reverenceAn act showing respect (especially a bow or curtsy)
stupefactionThe action of stupefying
thingAn action
transfusionThe action of pouring a liquid / liquid from one vessel to another
transgressionThe action of going beyond or overstepping some boundary or limit
vampirismThe actions or practices of a vampire
Broaderact, deed, human action, human activitySomething that people do or cause to happen
Spanishacción, acto, hecho
Catalanacció, acte, fet
Verbsactperform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
English > action: 12 senses > noun 2, state
MeaningThe state of being active.
Example "he is out of action"
Synonymsactivity, activeness
Attributesactive(of e.g. volcanos) erupting or liable to erupt
NarroweragencyThe state of being in action or exerting power
behavior, behaviourThe action or reaction of something (as a machine or substance) under specified circumstances
busyness, humThe state of being or appearing to be actively engaged in an activity
eruption, eructation, extravasation(of volcanos) pouring out fumes or lava (or a deposit so formed)
operationThe state of being in effect or being operative
overdriveThe state of high or excessive activity or productivity or concentration
playA state in which action is feasible
swingA state of steady vigorous action that is characteristic of an activity
BroaderstateThe way something is with respect to its main attributes
Oppositeinaction, inactivity, inactivenessThe state of being inactive
Spanishacción, actividad
Catalanacció, activitat
Verbsactperform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
actbe engaged in an activity, often for no particular purpose other than pleasure
English > action: 12 senses > noun 3, act
MeaningA military engagement.
Example"he saw action in Korea"
Synonymmilitary action
Categorymilitary, armed forces, armed services, military machine, war machineThe military forces of a nation
Narroweramphibious landingA military action of coordinated land, sea, and air forces organized for an invasion
battle, conflict, fight, engagementA hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
blockade, encirclementA war measure that isolates some area of importance to the enemy / enemy
defense, defence, defensive measure(military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies / enemies
electronic warfare, EWmilitary action involving the use of electromagnetic energy to determine or exploit or reduce or prevent hostile use of the electromagnetic spectrum
police actionA local military action without declaration of war
resistanceThe military action of resisting the enemy's / enemy's advance
saber rattling, sabre rattlingThe ostentatious display of military power (with the implied threat that it might be used)
sortie, sallyA military action in which besieged troops / troops burst forth from their position
war, warfareThe waging of armed conflict against an enemy / enemy
Broadergroup actionaction taken by a group of people
Spanishacción militar
Catalancombat
English > action: 12 senses > noun 4, process
MeaningA process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings).
Example"the action of natural forces"
Synonymsnatural process, natural action, activity
Narrowerabsorption(physics) the process in which incident radiated energy is retained without reflection or transmission on passing through a medium
acidificationThe process of becoming acid or being converted into an acid
adiabatic process(thermodynamics) any process that occurs without gain or loss of heat
aerationThe process of exposing to air (so as to purify)
antiredepositionThe process of preventing redeposition
captureAny process in which an atomic or nuclear system acquires an additional particle
captureA process whereby a star or planet holds an object in its gravitational field
centrifugationThe process of separating substances of different densities by the use of a centrifuge
chemical process, chemical change, chemical action(chemistry) any process determined by the atomic and molecular composition and structure of the substances involved
chromatographyA process used for separating mixtures by virtue of differences in absorbency
concretionThe formation of stonelike objects within a body organ (e.g., the kidneys)
condensationThe process of changing from a gaseous to a liquid or solid state
convection(meteorology) the vertical movement of heat / heat or other properties by massive motion within the atmosphere
curdling, clotting, coagulationThe process of forming semisolid lumps in a liquid / liquid
decayThe process of gradually becoming inferior
demagnetization, demagnetisationThe process of removing magnetization
desorptionchanging from an adsorbed state on a surface to a gaseous or liquid state
diffusion(physics) the process in which there is movement of a substance from an area of high concentration of that substance to an area of lower concentration
dissolution, disintegrationseparation into component parts
distillation, distillmentThe process of purifying a liquid / liquid by boiling it and condensing its vapors
driftThe gradual departure from an intended course due to external influences (as a ship or plane)
effervescenceThe process of bubbling as gas escapes
electrophoresis, cataphoresis, dielectrolysis, ionophoresisThe motion of charged particles in a colloid under the influence of an electric field
establishment, ecesis(ecology) the process by which a plant or animal becomes established in a new habitat
extinctionThe reduction of the intensity of radiation as a consequence of absorption and radiation
extractionThe process of obtaining something from a mixture or compound by chemical or physical or mechanical means
feedbackThe process in which part of the output of a system is returned to its input in order to regulate its further output
filtrationThe process whereby fluids pass through a filter or a filtering medium
flocculationThe process of flocculating
flowAny uninterrupted stream or discharge
formationnatural process that causes something to form
fossilization, fossilisationThe process of fossilizing a plant or animal that existed in some earlier age
geological process, geologic process(geology) a natural process whereby geological features are modified
hardening, solidifying, solidification, set, curingThe process of becoming hard or solid by cooling or drying or crystallization
inactivationThe process of rendering inactive
ion exchangeA process in which ions are exchanged between a solution and an insoluble (usually resinous) solid
ionization, ionisationThe process of ionizing / ionizing
leach, leachingThe process of leaching / leaching / leaching
magnetization, magnetisation, magnetic inductionThe process that makes a substance magnetic (temporarily or permanently)
materialization, materialisationThe process of coming into being
nuclear reaction(physics) a process that alters the energy or structure or composition of atomic nuclei
opacificationThe process of becoming cloudy or opaque
oscillationThe process of oscillating between states
oxygenationThe process of providing or combining or treating with oxygen
pair production, pair creation, pair formationThe transformation of a gamma-ray photon into an electron and a positron when the photon passes close to an atomic nucleus
phase change, phase transition, state change, physical changeA change from one state (solid or liquid / liquid or gas) to another without a change in chemical composition
precession of the equinoxesA slow westward shift of the equinoxes along the plane of the ecliptic caused by precession of the Earth's axis of rotation
radiationThe spread of a group of organisms into new habitats
releaseA process that liberates or discharges something
saltation(geology) the leaping movement of sand or soil particles as they are transported in a fluid medium over an uneven surface
scatteringThe physical process in which particles are deflected haphazardly as a result of collisions
sericultureRaising silkworms / silkworms in order to obtain raw silk
sink(technology) a process that acts to absorb or remove energy or a substance from a system
soak, soakage, soakingThe process of becoming softened and saturated as a consequence of being immersed / immersed in water (or other liquid / liquid)
softeningThe process of becoming softer
sorptionThe process in which one substance takes up or holds another (by either absorption or adsorption)
source(technology) a process by which energy or a substance enters a system
stiffening, rigidifying, rigidificationThe process of becoming stiff or rigid
stimulation(physiology) the effect of a stimulus (on nerves or organs etc.)
succession, ecological succession(ecology) the gradual and orderly process of change in an ecosystem brought about by the progressive replacement of one community by another until a stable climax is established
survival, survival of the fittest, natural selection, selectionA natural process resulting in the evolution of organisms best adapted to the environment
synergy, synergismThe working together of two things (muscles or drugs for example) to produce an effect greater than the sum of their individual effects
temperature changeA process whereby the degree of hotness of a body / body (or medium) changes
transductionThe process whereby a transducer accepts energy in one form and gives back related energy in a different form
transpirationThe passage of gases through fine tubes because of differences in pressure or temperature
vitrificationThe process of becoming vitreous
Broaderprocess, physical processA sustained phenomenon or one marked by gradual changes through a series of states
Spanishacción, acción natural, proceso natural
Catalanprocés natural
English > action: 12 senses > noun 5, communication
MeaningThe series of events that form a plot.
Example"his novels always have a lot of action"
BroaderplotThe story that is told in a novel or play or movie etc.
Spanishacción
Catalanacció
English > action: 12 senses > noun 6, attribute
MeaningThe trait of being active and energetic / energetic and forceful.
Example"a man of action"
BroaderdriveThe trait of being highly motivated
Spanishacción
Catalanacció
English > action: 12 senses > noun 7, artifact
MeaningThe operating part that transmits power to a mechanism.
Example"the piano had a very stiff action"
Synonymaction mechanism
Part ofgunA weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
keyboarddevice consisting of a set of keys on a piano or organ or typewriter or typesetting machine or computer or the like
PartskeyA lever (as in a keyboard) that actuates a mechanism when depressed
Narrowergunlock, firing mechanismThe action that ignites the charge in a firearm
movementThe driving and regulating parts of a mechanism (as of a watch or clock)
piano actionaction consisting of a system of levers that move a felt hammer to strike the strings when a key is depressed
pump action, slide actionaction mechanism in a modern rifle or shotgun
Broadermechanismdevice consisting of a piece of machinery
Catalanacció
English > action: 12 senses > noun 8, act
MeaningA judicial proceeding brought by one party against another; one party prosecutes another for a wrong done or for protection of a right or for prevention of a wrong.
Synonymslegal action, action at law
Categorylaw, jurisprudenceThe collection of rules imposed by authority
Narrowerantitrust caseA legal action brought against parties who are charged with limiting free competition in the market place
civil actionlegal action to protect a private civil right or to compel a civil remedy (as distinguished from criminal prosecution)
counterclaimA claim filed in opposition to another claim in a legal action
custody caseA legal action to determine custody (usually of children following a divorce)
lis pendensA pending lawsuit
prosecution, criminal prosecutionThe institution and conduct of legal proceedings against a defendant for criminal behavior
test case, test suitA representative legal action whose outcome is likely to become a precedent
Broaderproceeding, legal proceeding, proceedings(law) the institution of a sequence of steps by which legal judgments are invoked
Spanishcaso, causa, proceso
Catalancausa, procés
Verbsactioninstitute legal proceedings against
English > action: 12 senses > noun 9, act
MeaningAn act by a government body or supranational organization.
Examples
  • "recent federal action undermined the segregationist position"
  • "the United Nations must have the power to propose and organize action without being hobbled by irrelevant issues"
  • "the Union action of emancipating Southern slaves"
Broadergroup actionaction taken by a group of people
English > action: 12 senses > noun 10, act
MeaningThe most important or interesting work or activity in a specific area or field.
Examples
  • "the action is no longer in technology stocks but in municipal bonds"
  • "gawkers always try to get as close to the action as possible"
BroaderworkActivity directed toward making or doing something
English > action: 12 senses > verb 1, social
Meaninginstitute legal proceedings against; file a suit against.
PatternSomebody ----s somebody
Example "She actioned the company for discrimination"
Synonymssue, litigate, process
NarrowerexpediteProcess fast and efficiently
Broaderchallengeissue a challenge to
Similar tolitigateEngage in legal proceedings
Spanishcontender, demandar, litigar, pleitear, proceder, procesar
Catalandemandar
Adjectivesactionableaffording grounds for legal action
Nounsactiona judicial proceeding brought by one party against another
English > action: 12 senses > verb 2, creation
Meaningput in effect.
PatternSomebody ----s something
Example "He actioned the operation"
Synonymscarry through, accomplish, execute, carry out, fulfill, fulfil
Narrowerconsummatemake perfect
consummatefulfill sexually
dispatch, discharge, completecomplete or carry out
do, performGet (something) done
get overTo bring (a necessary but unpleasant task) to an end
runcarry out
Broadercomplete, finishCome or bring to a finish or an end / end
effect, effectuate, set upproduce
Similar tofollow through, follow up, follow out, carry out, implement, put through, go through withpursue to a conclusion or bring to a successful issue
Spanishcompletar, cumplir, ejecutar, llevar a término, realizar
Catalancompletar, complir, executar, portar a terme

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