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| ef·fect [ i fékt ] |
noun (plural ef·fects) |
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| Definition: |
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1. result: a change or changed state occurring as a direct result of action by somebody or something else
  showing the effects of prolonged malnutrition
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2. power to influence: success in bringing about a change in somebody or something, or the ability to achieve this
I pleaded with them, but to no effect.
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3. being in force or operation: the state of being in force or operation, or of being the case, often from a particular point in time
The new law doesn't come into effect until next month.
Much-needed changes were now being put into effect.
You have to wait for the medication to take effect.
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4. impression: an impression produced in the mind of somebody who sees, hears, or reads something, especially one that is deliberately intended or engineered
The overall effect of the new decor was light and spacious.
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5. cause or production of impression: something that produces an impression, or the process of causing a special feeling or impression
a grand little speech made merely for effect
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6. special sound or lighting: something done to produce a desired response or to add to the realism or theatricality of a movie, play, or broadcast
(
often used in the plural
)
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7. scientific phenomenon: a scientifically observed and described phenomenon
the Doppler effect
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plural noun ef·fects |
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| Definition: |
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belongings: somebody's personal belongings, or the things that somebody is carrying about him or her
(
formal
)
Compensation will be paid for damage to or loss of personal effects.
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transitive verb (past and past participle ef·fect·ed, present participle ef·fect·ing, 3rd person present singular ef·fects) |
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| Definition: |
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do or make something: to succeed in making or doing something
They effected their escape through a rear window.
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| [14th century. Directly or via French< Latin effectus< efficere "accomplish" < facere "make, do"] |
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| ef·fect·er noun |
| ef·fect·i·ble adjective |
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in ef·fect used to indicate that what is being said represents the truth of the matter, even though the words used may not be those that other people would choose
In effect, this means that the program is shut down.
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to that ef·fect having or indicating approximately the same meaning
She objected and replied to that effect the next day.
The answer was "No" - or words to that effect.
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