effect - Dictionary definition and pronunciation

ef·fect

(

-f

) KEY

NOUN:

Something brought about by a cause or agent; a result.
The power to produce an outcome or achieve a result; influence: The drug had an immediate effect on the pain. The government's action had no effect on the trade imbalance.
A scientific law, hypothesis, or phenomenon: the photovoltaic effect.
Advantage; avail: used her words to great effect in influencing the jury.
The condition of being in full force or execution: a new regulation that goes into effect tomorrow.
1. Something that produces a specific impression or supports a general design or intention: The lighting effects emphasized the harsh atmosphere of the drama.
2. A particular impression: large windows that gave an effect of spaciousness.
3. Production of a desired impression: spent lavishly on dinner just for effect.
The basic or general meaning; import: He said he was greatly worried, or words to that effect.
effects Movable belongings; goods.

TRANSITIVE VERB:
ef·fect·ed , ef·fect·ing , ef·fects

To bring into existence.
To produce as a result.
To bring about. See Usage Note at affect ¹.

IDIOM:
in effect

In essence; to all purposes: testimony that in effect contradicted her earlier statement.

ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English, from Old French, from Latin effectus, from past participle of efficere, to accomplish : ex-, ex- + facere, to make; see dh- in Indo-European roots

OTHER FORMS:
ef·fecter (Noun), ef·fecti·ble (Adjective)

SYNONYMS:
effect , consequence , result , outcome , upshot , sequel

These nouns denote an occurrence, situation, or condition that is caused by an antecedent. An effect is produced by the action of an agent or a cause and follows it in time: "Every cause produces more than one effect" (Herbert Spencer). A consequence has a less sharply definable relationship to its cause: "Servitude is at once the consequence of his crime and the punishment of his guilt" (John P. Curran). A result is viewed as the end product of the operation of the cause: "Judging from the results I have seen ... I cannot say ... that I agree with you" (William H. Mallock). An outcome more strongly implies finality and may suggest the operation of a cause over a relatively long period: The trial's outcome might have changed if the defendant had testified. An upshot is a decisive result, often of the nature of a climax: "The upshot of the matter ... was that she showed both of them the door" (Robert Louis Stevenson). A sequel is a consequence that ensues after a lapse of time: "Our dreams are the sequel of our waking knowledge" (Ralph Waldo Emerson). See also Synonyms at perform.

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