cause definition - Dictionary

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cause

cause [ kawz ]

noun (plural caus·es)

Definition:

1. what makes something happen: a person or thing that makes something happen or exist or is responsible for something that happens

the cause of all the uproar

2. reason: a reason or grounds for doing or feeling something

no cause for complaint

3. principle: a principle or idea that people believe in or work for

4. interest: the interests and goals of a group of people

5. legal case: a lawsuit, or the reason that a suit is brought in a court of law

6. discussion subject: something under discussion or to be decided

transitive verb (past and past participle caused, present participle caus·ing, 3rd person present singular caus·es)

Definition:

be reason for something: to make something happen or exist, or be the reason for somebody doing something or for something happening

[13th century. Via Old French< Latin causa "reason, motive"]

caus·a·bil·i·ty [ kàwzə bíllətee ] noun

caus·a·ble [ káwzəb'l ] adjective

cause·less [ káwzləss ] adjective

caus·er [ káwzər ] noun

Cultural Note


	Rebel Without a Cause, a movie (1955) by U.S. director Nicholas Ray. The movie that made actor James Dean a symbol of an alienated generation, it is the story of Jim, a youth who seems unable to stay out of trouble. His attempts to win the affections of a local girl, Judy, lead to conflict with her boyfriend and, ultimately, tragedy.

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