A Topical Dictionary: Search for active

Dictionary Results For "active" [?]/[OPML]

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GNU Project's publication of CIDE, the Collaborative International Dictionary of English Active \Ac"tive\, a. [F. actif, L. activus, fr. agere to act.]
1. 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.
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2. Quick in physical movement; of an agile and vigorous body;
nimble; as, an active child or animal.
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Active and nervous was his gait. --Wordsworth.
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3. In action; actually proceeding; working; in force; --
opposed to quiescent, dormant, or extinct; as,
active laws; active hostilities; an active volcano.
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4. 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.
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5. Requiring or implying action or exertion; -- opposed to
sedentary or to tranquil; as, active employment or
service; active scenes.
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6. Given to action rather than contemplation; practical;
operative; -- opposed to speculative or theoretical;
as, an active rather than a speculative statesman.
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7. Brisk; lively; as, an active demand for corn.
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8. Implying or producing rapid action; as, an active disease;
an active remedy.
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9. (Gram.)
(a) Applied to a form of the verb; -- opposed to
passive. See Active voice, under Voice.
(b) Applied to verbs which assert that the subject acts
upon or affects something else; transitive.
(c) Applied to all verbs that express action as distinct
from mere existence or state.
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Active capital, Active wealth, money, or property that
may readily be converted into money.
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Syn: Agile; alert; brisk; vigorous; nimble; lively; quick;
sprightly; prompt; energetic.
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WordNet Active
adj 1: tending to become more severe or wider in scope; "active
tuberculosis" [ant: inactive]
2: engaged in or ready for military or naval operations; "on
active duty"; "the platoon is combat-ready"; "review the
fighting forces" [syn: combat-ready, fighting(a)]
3: disposed to take action or effectuate change; "a director
who takes an active interest in corporate operations"; "an
active antagonism"; "he was active in drawing attention to
their grievances" [ant: passive]
4: taking part in an activity; "an active member of the club";
"he was politically active"; "the participating
organizations" [syn: participating]
5: characterized by energetic activity; "an active toddler";
"active as a gazelle"; "an active man is a man of action"
[ant: inactive]
6: exerting influence or producing an effect; "an active
ingredient" [ant: inactive]
7: full of activity or engaged in continuous activity; "an
active seaport"; "an active bond market"; "an active
account" [ant: inactive]
8: in operation; "keep hope alive"; "the tradition was still
alive"; "an active tradition" [syn: alive(p)]
9: of the sun; characterized by a high level activity in
sunspots and flares and radio emissions [ant: quiet]
10: expressing that the subject of the sentence has the semantic
function of actor: "Hemingway favors active
constructions" [ant: passive]
11: expressing action rather than a state of being; used of
verbs (e.g. `to run') and participial adjectives (e.g.
`running' in `running water') [syn: dynamic] [ant: stative]
12: (of e.g. volcanos) erupting or liable to erupt; "active
volcanos" [ant: dormant, extinct]
13: producing activity or change [ant: counteractive]
14: engaged in full-time work; "active duty"; "though past
retirement age he is still active in his profession"
[ant: inactive]
15: being in physical motion; "active fish in the aquarium"
16: characterized by energetic bodily activity; "tennis is an
active sport"; "a very physical dance performance" [syn:
physical]
n 1: chemical agent capable of activity [syn: active agent]
2: the voice used to indicate that the grammatical subject of
the verb is performing the action or causing the happening
denoted by the verb; "`The boy threw the ball' uses the
active voice" [syn: active voice] [ant: passive voice]
3: a person devoted to the active life [ant: contemplative]

Moby Dictionary
acting , active voice , activist , activistic , acute , aggressive ,
agile , alert , alive , animated , assiduous , at work , bouncing ,
bouncy , breezy , brisk , bubbly , bustling , busy , catty , chipper ,
compliant , conforming , conscientious , constant , devoted , devout ,
diligent , driving , duteous , dutiful , dynamic , ebullient , effective ,
effectual , effervescent , efficacious , efficient , energetic ,
enterprising , enthusiastic , expeditious , faithful , flexible ,
forceful , forcible , frisky , full , full of go , full of life ,
full of pep , functional , functioning , go-go , going , going on ,
graceful , hearty , hyperactive , impelling , impetuous , in exercise ,
in force , in hand , in motion , in operation , in play , in practice ,
in process , in the works , inaction , incisive , industrious ,
influential , intense , keen , kinetic , live , lively , living , loyal ,
lusty , medio-passive , mercurial , meticulous , mettlesome , middle ,
middle voice , militant , mindful , mobile , motile , motivational ,
motive , motor , moving , nimble , observant , occupied , on foot ,
on the fire , on the go , on the move , ongoing , operating ,
operational , operative , passive , passive voice , peppy , perky , pert ,
physical , potent , powerful , practicing , prompt , propellant ,
propelling , punctilious , punctual , quick , quicksilver , ready ,
reflexive , regardful , robust , running , rushing , scrupulous ,
smacking , snappy , spanking , spirited , sprightly , spry , stirring ,
strenuous , strong , supple , take-charge , take-over , transitional ,
traveling , trenchant , true , vibrant , vigorous , vivacious , vivid ,
voice , wide-awake , working , zestful , zesty , zingy , zippy

ACTIVE. The opposite, of passive. We say active debts, or debts due to us; passive debts are those we owe.