active
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Contents |
English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Middle English actif, from Old French actif, from Latin activus, from agere (“to do, to act”); see act.
Pronunciation[edit]
Adjective[edit]
active (comparative more active, superlative most active)
- Having the power or quality of acting; causing change; communicating action or motion; acting; — opposed to passive, that receives; as, certain active principles; the powers of the mind.
- Quick in physical movement; of an agile and vigorous body; nimble; as, an active child or animal.
- In action; actually proceeding; working; in force; — opposed to quiescent, dormant, or extinct.
- active laws
- active hostilities
- (specifically, of a volcano) Being an active volcano.
- Given to action; constantly engaged in action; energetic; diligent; busy; — opposed to dull, sluggish, indolent, or inert; as, an active man of business; active mind; active zeal.
- Requiring or implying action or exertion; — opposed to sedentary or to tranquil; as, active employment or service; active scenes.
- Given to action rather than contemplation; practical; operative; — opposed to speculative or theoretical; as, an active rather than a speculative statesman.
- Brisk; lively; as, an active demand for corn.
- Implying or producing rapid action.
- an active disease
- an active remedy
- (grammar) Applied to a form of the verb; — opposed to passive. See active voice.
- (grammar) Applied to verbs which assert that the subject acts upon or affects something else; transitive.
- (grammar) Applied to all verbs that express action as distinct from mere existence or state.
- (gay sexual slang) (of a homosexual man) enjoying a role in anal sex in which he penetrates, rather than being penetrated by his partner
Synonyms[edit]
- The terms below need to be checked and allocated to the definitions (senses) of the headword above. Each term should appear in the sense for which it is appropriate. Use the template
{{sense|"gloss"}}, substituting a short version of the definition for "gloss".
- (1): acting
- (2): agile, nimble
- (3): in action, in force, working
- (4): busy, diligent, energetic
- (6): operative, practical
- (7): brisk, lively
- (9.2): transitive
- (10): top
- See also Wikisaurus:active
Antonyms[edit]
- (1): passive
- (2): indolent, lethargic
- (3): dormant, extinct, quiescent
- (4): dull, indolent, inert, sluggish
- (5): sedentary, tranquil
- (6): speculative, theoretical
- (7): slow
- (9.1): passive
- (10): passive, bottom
Related terms[edit]
See also[edit]
- versatile (in relation to sense 10)
Translations[edit]
having the quality or power of acting
quick in physical movement
in action
given to action
requiring or implying action or exertion
given to action rather than contemplation
brisk; lively
(grammar)
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Noun[edit]
active (plural actives)
- A person or thing that is acting or capable of acting.
External links[edit]
- active in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- active in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
French[edit]
Adjective[edit]
active
- feminine form of actif
Verb[edit]
active
- first-person singular present indicative of activer
- third-person singular present indicative of activer
- first-person singular present subjunctive of activer
- first-person singular present subjunctive of activer
- second-person singular imperative of activer
Anagrams[edit]
Latin[edit]
Adjective[edit]
actīve
- vocative masculine singular of actīvus
Portuguese[edit]
Verb[edit]
active
- first-person singular present subjunctive of activar
- third-person singular present subjunctive of activar
- first-person singular imperative of activar
- third-person singular imperative of activar
Romanian[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
- IPA: [akˈti.ve]
Adjective[edit]
active
- feminine pluralnominative form of activ
- feminine pluralaccusative form of activ
- neuter pluralnominative form of activ
- neuter pluralaccusative form of activ
Spanish[edit]
Verb[edit]
active (infinitive activar)
Categories:
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms derived from Old French
- English terms derived from Latin
- English adjectives
- en:Grammar
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- French adjective forms
- French verb forms
- Latin adjective forms
- Portuguese verb forms
- Romanian adjective forms
- Spanish verb forms
- Spanish verb subjunctive forms
- Spanish verb singular forms
- Spanish verb first-person forms
- Spanish verb present forms
- Spanish forms of verbs ending in -ar
- Spanish verb second-person forms
- Spanish verb formal forms
- Spanish verb third-person forms
