Definition of 'effect'
Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense effects
, present participle effecting
, past tense, past participle effected
1. variable noun [adjective NOUN]
The effect of one thing on another is the change that the first thing causes in the second thing.
2. countable noun
3. plural noun [with poss]
5. verb
[formal]
6. See also greenhouse effect, placebo effect, ripple effect, side-effect, sound effect, special effect
7.
See for effect
8.
See in effect
10.
11.
See take effect
12.
See to (good) effect
13.
15. cause and effect
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
British English pronunciation
American English pronunciation
You may also like
Word Frequency
effect in British English
noun
1.
something that is produced by a cause or agent; result
3.
the law comes into effect at midnight
4. See take effect
6.
8. See in effect
verb
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
effecter (efˈfecter) noun
effectible (efˈfectible)
adjective
Word origin
C14: from Latin effectus a performing, tendency, from efficere to accomplish, from facere to do
Word Frequency
effect in American English
noun
1.
anything brought about by a cause or agent; result
2.
the power or ability to bring about results; efficacy
a law of little effect
3.
influence or action on something
the drug had a cathartic effect
5.
a.
the impression produced on the mind of the observer or hearer, as by artistic design or manner of speaking, acting, etc.
to do something just for effect
b.
striking cloud effects
c.
a scientific phenomenon
the Doppler effect
7. [pl.]
belongings; property
household effects
verb transitive
8.
to bring about; produce as a result; cause; accomplish
to effect a compromise
SIMILAR WORDS: perˈform
SYNONYMY NOTE: effect is applied to that which is directly produced by an action, process, or agent and
is the exact correlative of cause; consequence suggests that which follows something else on which it is dependent in some way,
but does not connote as direct a connection with cause; result stresses that which is finally brought about by the effects or consequences of an
action, process, etc.; issue, in this connection, suggests a result in which there is emergence from difficulties
or conflict; outcome refers to the result of something that was in doubt OPPOSITE: cause
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
effecter (efˈfecter)
noun
Word origin
ME < OFr (& L) < L effectus, orig., pp. of efficere, to bring to pass, accomplish < ex-, out + facere, do1Word Frequency
effect in American English
(ɪˈfekt)
noun
1.
something that is produced by an agency or cause; result; consequence
Exposure to the sun had the effect of toughening his skin
2.
power to produce results; efficacy; force; validity; influence
His protest had no effect
3.
to bring a plan into effect
6.
the making of a desired impression
We had the feeling that the big, expensive car was only for effect
9. See special effects
10. See in effect
transitive verb
SYNONYMS 1. outcome, issue. effect, consequence(s), result refer to something produced by an action or a cause. An effect is that which is produced, usually more or less immediately and directly: The effect of morphine is to produce sleep. A consequence, something that follows naturally or logically, as in a train of events or sequence
of time, is less intimately connected with its cause than is an effect: Punishment is the consequence of disobedience. A result may be near or remote, and often is the sum of effects or consequences as making
an end or final outcome: The English language is the result of the fusion of many different elements. 12. achieve, realize, fulfill, perform, consummate.USAGE See affect112.
to produce as an effect; bring about; accomplish; make happen
The new machines finally effected the transition to computerized accounting last spring
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Derived forms
effectible adjective
Word origin
[1350–1400; ME ‹ L effectus the carrying out (of a task, etc.), hence, that which is achieved, outcome, equiv.
to effec- (var. s. of efficere to make, carry out; ef- ef- + -ficere, comb. form of facere to do1) + -tus suffix of v. action]Examples of 'effect' in a sentence
effect
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content that does not reflect the opinions or policies of Collins, or its parent company HarperCollins.
We welcome feedback: report an example sentence to the Collins team. Read more…
More idioms containing
effect
Trends of
effect
View usage for:
Source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
In other languages
effect
British English: effect
/ɪˈfɛkt/ NOUN
An effect is a change, reaction, or impression that is caused by something or is the result of something.
...the effects of global warming.
- American English: effect /ɪˈfɛkt/
- Arabic: أَثَر
- Brazilian Portuguese: efeito
- Chinese: 影响
- Croatian: učinak
- Czech: účinek
- Danish: effekt
- Dutch: effect resultaat
- European Spanish: efecto
- Finnish: vaikutus
- French: effet
- German: Wirkung
- Greek: συνέπεια
- Italian: effetto
- Japanese: 影響
- Korean: 효과
- Norwegian: virkning
- Polish: skutek
- European Portuguese: efeito
- Romanian: efect
- Russian: результат
- Latin American Spanish: efecto
- Swedish: verkan
- Thai: ผลกระทบ
- Turkish: etki
- Ukrainian: результат
- Vietnamese: tác động
Browse alphabetically
effect
Related terms of
effect
Source
Definition of effect from the Collins English Dictionary
Read about the team of authors behind Collins Dictionaries.
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
KITCHEN UTENSILS
Drag the correct answer into the box.
ladle
kettle
wok
tin opener
KITCHEN UTENSILS
Drag the correct answer into the box.
food processor
grater
saucepan
wok
KITCHEN UTENSILS
Drag the correct answer into the box.
masher
baking tray
tin opener
ladle
Your score:
Word of the day
incarvillea
any plant of the genus Incarvillea, native to China , of which some species are grown as garden or greenhouse plants for their large usually carmine-coloured trumpet-shaped flowers, esp I. delavayi: family Bignoniaceae
Latest Word Submissions
Collins English Dictionary Apps
Download our English Dictionary apps - available for both iOS and Android.
Read more
Collins Dictionaries for Schools
Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. And best of all it's ad free, so sign up now and start using at home or in the classroom.
Read more
Word lists
We have almost 200 lists of words from topics as varied as types of butterflies, jackets, currencies, vegetables and knots!
Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge!
Read more
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
SPORTS
Drag the correct answer into the box.
jogging
weightlifting
ice hockey
boxing
SPORTS
Drag the correct answer into the box.
judo
canoeing
hockey
skiing
Your score:
Learning English: Saying goodbye
Learn informal ways to say goodbye in British English - from 'Goodbye' to 'See ya!' with examples and tips for everyday use.
Read more
Scrabble: Spoilt for Choice
Strategize your Scrabble moves based on anagrams on the board, score, vowel placement, and hooks to get the best score you can.
Read more
‘100 Words for Rain’ by Alex Johnson
Discover the allure of weather lore and literary references in "100 Words for Rain" and delve into rain phenomena and cultural anecdotes.
Read more
Learning English: Making a phone call
Ease your nerves with these helpful phrases for English phone calls. From introductions to inquiries, master effective communication.
Read more
Collins English Dictionary Apps
Download our English Dictionary apps - available for both iOS and Android.
Read more
Collins Dictionaries for Schools
Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. And best of all it's ad free, so sign up now and start using at home or in the classroom.
Read more
Word lists
We have almost 200 lists of words from topics as varied as types of butterflies, jackets, currencies, vegetables and knots!
Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge!
Read more