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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary ac·tion ETYMOLOGY Middle English accioun, from Anglo-French accion, from Latin action-, actio, from agere to do — more at agent DATE 14th century 1. the initiating of a proceeding in a court of justice by which one demands or enforces one's right; also : the proceeding itself 2. the bringing about of an alteration by force or through a natural agency 3. the manner or method of performing: a. an actor's or speaker's deportment or expression by means of attitude, voice, and gesture b. the style of movement of the feet and legs (as of a horse) c. a function of the body or one of its parts 4. an act of will 5. a. a thing done : deed b. the accomplishment of a thing usually over a period of time, in stages, or with the possibility of repetition c. plural : behavior , conduct unscrupulous actions d. initiative , enterprise a man of action 6. a. (1) an engagement between troops or ships (2) combat in war gallantry in action b. (1) an event or series of events forming a literary composition (2) the unfolding of the events of a drama or work of fiction : plot (3) the movement of incidents in a plot c. the combination of circumstances that constitute the subject matter of a painting or sculpture 7. a. an operating mechanism b. the manner in which a mechanism or instrument operates 8. a. the price movement and trading volume of a commodity, security, or market b. the process of betting including the offering and acceptance of a bet and determination of a winner c. financial gain or an opportunity for financial gain a piece of the action 9. sexual activity 10. the most vigorous, productive, or exciting activity in a particular field, area, or group they itch to go where the action is — D. J. Henahan English Etymology action mid-14c., from O.Fr . action (12c.), from L. actionem (nom.actio), from pp. stem of agere "to do" (see act). Meaning "fighting" is from c.1600. As a film director's command, it is attested from 1923. Meaning "excitement" is recorded from 1968. Phrase actions speak louder than words is attested from 1845. Related: Actionable (1590s).http://O.Fr Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 ☞ action ac·tion / 5AkFn / nounWHAT SB DOES 作为 1. [U] the process of doing sth in order to make sth happen or to deal with a situation 行动；行为过程: The time has come for action if these beautiful animals are to survive. 若要使这些美丽的动物能生存下去,现在就要行动起来。 Firefighters took action immediately to stop the blaze spreading. 消防队员立即采取了行动制止大火蔓延。 What is the best course of action in the circumstances? 在这种情况下最佳行动方针是什么？ She began to explain her plan of action to the group. 她开始向小组讲解她的行动计划。 ⇨ see also direct action , industrial action 2. [C] a thing that sb does 所做之事；行为: Her quick action saved the child's life. 她行动迅速,救了小孩的命。 Each of us must take responsibility for our own actions. 我们每个人都必须对自己的行为负责。 LEGAL PROCESS 诉讼程序 3. [C, U] a legal process to stop a person or company from doing sth, or to make them pay for a mistake, etc. 诉讼；起诉: A libel action is being brought against the magazine that published the article. 发表该文章的杂志将受到诽谤诉讼。 He is considering taking legal action against the hospital. 他正考虑起诉这家医院。 IN WAR 战争 4. [U] fighting in a battle or war 战斗；作战: military action 军事行动 soldiers killed in action 阵亡战士 IN STORY / PLAY 故事；戏剧 5. [U] the events in a story, play, etc. (故事、戏剧等中的)情节: The action takes place in France. 这个故事发生在法国。 EXCITING EVENTS 激动人心的事 6. [U] exciting events 激动人心的事: I like films with plenty of action. 我喜欢情节曲折离奇的动作片。 New York is where the action is. 纽约是个热闹活跃的地方。 EFFECT 作用 7. [U] ~ of sth (on sth) the effect that six substance or chemical has on another (一种物质或化学品对另一种所起的)作用: the action of sunlight on the skin 阳光对皮肤的作用 OF PART OF THE BODY 身体部位 8. [U, C] (technical 术语) the way a part of the body moves or functions (身体部位的)动作,功能: a study of the action of the liver 对肝功能的研究 OF MACHINE 机器 9. [sing.] the mechanical parts of a piano, gun, clock, etc. or the way the parts move (钢琴、枪炮、钟表等的)机械装置,活动部件；(机械部件的)活动方式 ⇨ see also pump-action IDIOMS ▪ actions speak louder than 'words (saying) what a person actually does means more than what they say they will do 行动比言语更为响亮 ▪ in 'action if sb / sth is in action, they are doing the activity or work that is typical for them 在活动中；在运转: Just press the button to see your favourite character in action. 只要按一下电钮就可以看到你喜欢的角色在表演。 I've yet to see all the players in action. 我还得看所有参赛者的实地比赛。 ▪ into 'action if you put an idea or a plan into action, you start making it happen or work 实行；实施: The new plan for traffic control is being put into action on an experimental basis. 新的交通管理方案正在试验实施。 ▪ out of 'action not able to work or be used because of injury or damage 不能工作；失去作用；停止运转: Jon will be out of action for weeks with a broken leg. 乔恩断了一条腿,将有几个星期不能走动。 The photocopier is out of action today. 复印机今天出故障了。 ▪ a piece / slice of the 'action (informal) a share or role in an interesting or exciting activity, especially in order to make money 插手,参与(尤指为了赚钱): Foreign firms will all want a piece of the action if the new airport goes ahead. 要是新机场开始修建,外国公司都会来插一手捞好处。 ⇨ more at evasive , spring v., swing v. verb[VN] to make sure that sth is done or dealt with 务必做,确保处理(某事): Your request will be actioned. 你的要求会处理的。 Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English action noun 1 process of doing sth ADJ. decisive, effective, firm, strong, vigorous | immediate, prompt, swift, urgent | drastic, emergency The situation calls for drastic action. | collective, concerted, joint, united | direct, positive | evasive | corrective, remedial | disciplinary, legal, military, political, strike Disciplinary action will be taken against students who cheat. (see also industrial action) VERB + ACTION take | call for | agree on The leaders have agreed on joint action to combat terrorism. | leap/spring/swing into The emergency services swung into action as soon as the disaster was reported. | carry out, perform, take Only the priest can perform these actions. We shall take whatever actions are necessary. | galvanize/prod/spur sb into We have to galvanize people into action. | bring/put sth into We need to put these ideas into action. | keep/put sb/sth out of A fire has put the factory out of action. PREP. in ~ I have not yet seen the machines in action. | out of ~ He is out of action following an ankle injury. | ~ against against drug dealers | ~ on The government is taking strong action on refugees. PHRASES a course of action Is this the best course of action to follow? 2 legal case ADJ. court | civil, criminal, libel VERB + ACTION bring, take out Her husband brought a civil action against her after their divorce. PREP. ~ against 3 fighting ADJ. enemy He was killed during enemy action. VERB + ACTION see I never saw action during the war. PHRASES killed/missing/wounded in action He was reported missing in action. OLT action noun ⇨ action (take responsibility for your actions)⇨ activity (films with plenty of action)⇨ case (a libel action)⇨ effect (the action of sunlight on the skin)⇨ war (killed in action)⇨ take action ⇨ act verb⇨ in action ⇨ active adj.⇨ put sb/sth out of action ⇨ disable verb Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged ac·tion I. \ˈakshən\ noun (-s) Etymology: Middle English accioun, from Middle French action, from Latin action-, actio, from actus (past participle of agere to do) + -ion-, -io -ion — more at agent 1. : a deliberative or authorized proceeding: a. (1) : a legal proceeding by which one demands or enforces one's right in a court of justice (2) : a judicial proceeding for the enforcement or protection of a right, the redress or prevention of a wrong, or the punishment of a public offense — usually distinguished from special proceeding (3) : the right to bring or maintain such a legal or judicial proceeding — see suit b. (1) : an award by a judicial body (2) : an act or decision by an executive or legislative body (as of a government or a political party) or by a supranational agency < the action taken by Congress followed a lengthy debate > < strikes organized by action committees > 2. a. : the bringing about of an alteration by force or through some natural agency < the action of water on rocks > b. : the process of change or alteration considered as a natural condition : activity < intervals of action and repose > c. : the progressive alteration of mental states or of mental and physical states coordinately especially when resulting in an observable effect on the external world — compare behavior 1b d. : a quantity expressed in cgs units of erg seconds relating to the change of a dynamic system from one configuration to another and regarded in classical dynamics as twice the product of the average kinetic energy during the change and the time interval in which the change takes place e. ecology : the effect of the environment on the individuals exposed to it as a factor in community formation — see coaction 3. : the process of doing : exertion of energy : performance :manner of doing: a. : the deportment of an actor or speaker or his expression by means of attitude, voice, gesture, and countenance < an actor's words and actions should agree > b. : the movement of the feet and legs (of a horse or dog) c. : a function of the body or of one of its parts or organs; specifically : defecation 4. : a voluntary act of will that manifests itself externally < an emergency requiring action > or that may be completed internally (as in contemplation) — contrasted with passion 5. a. : a thing done : deed b. actions plural : behavior , conduct 3c < somber actions > c. : initiative , enterprise < a man of action > 6. a. (1) : an engagement between troops < two small actions for control of the hill > or ships < decks cleared for action > (2) : combat in war < he saw action on a destroyer > b. (1) : a real or imaginary event or series of events forming the subject of a play, poem, or other composition (2) : the unfolding of the events of a drama or work of fiction : plot (3) : the movement of incidents in a plot < action-packed drama > < an action story > c. : the combination of circumstances that constitute the subject matter of a painting or sculpture d. (1) : a religious ceremony : a sacramental or devotional performance (2) : the canon of the mass, the communion service, or the Lord's Supper 7. : a share of stock 8. a. : an operating mechanism: (1) : a mechanism connecting the keys with the sounding or effective part (as strings, pipes, or type faces) of a keyboard instrument or machine (2) : a mechanism by means of which a firearm is loaded and fired — compare lock ; automatic , double-action , semiautomatic , single-action b. : the manner in which a mechanism operates: (1) : the response or resistance of keys in a keyboard-operated mechanism to the player's or operator's fingers < a stiff action > < a sluggish action > (2) : the amount of resiliency and flexibility in a fishing rod in relation to its length and diameter < dry-fly action > < wet-fly action > (3) : the relationship between the number of turns made by the reel spool in a fishing reel for every turn of the reel handle < a single-action reel > 9. a. : the price movement and trading volume of a commodity, security, or market b. : the entire process of betting including essentially the offering and acceptance of a bet and determination of a winner II. transitive verb (-ed/-ing/-s) archaic : to bring a legal action against III. noun 1. : financial gain or an opportunity for financial gain < a piece of the action > 2. : sexual activity 3. : the most vigorous, productive, or exciting activity in a particular field, area, or group < go where the action is > |
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