- act
- verb1》 take action; do something.↘(act up) informal behave badly.2》 (act for/on behalf of) represent on a contractual or legal basis.↘[as adjective acting] temporarily doing the duties of another.3》 take effect or have a particular effect.4》 perform a fictional role in a play or film.↘behave so as to appear to be: I acted dumb.↘(act something out) perform a narrative as if it were a play.noun1》 a thing done.2》 a simulation or pretence.↘a particular type of behaviour or routine: he did his Sir Galahad act.3》 Law a written ordinance of Parliament, Congress, etc.4》 dated a record of the decisions or proceedings of a committee or an academic body.5》 a main division of a play, ballet, or opera.6》 a set performance: her one-woman poetry act.Phrasesact of God an instance of uncontrollable natural forces in operation.act of grace a privilege or concession that cannot be claimed as a right.get (or be) in on the act informal become (or be) involved in a particular activity, in order to gain an advantage.Derivativesactability nounactable adjectiveacting nounOriginME: from L. actus 'event, thing done', from act-, agere 'do, act', reinforced by Fr. acte.
English new terms dictionary. 2014.