effect
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ef·fect1 /ɪ'fekt/ n [C;U(on, upon)] 1 a result or condition produced by a cause; something that happens when one thing acts on another: One of the effects of this illness is that you lose your hair. | suffering from the effects of too much alcohol | The advertising campaign didn't have much effect on sales. | The disclosures had the effect of reducing the government's popularity. 2 a result produced on the mind or feelings; an IMPRESSION: Her new red dress produced quite an effect on everyone. | Don't look at the details, consider the general effect. | Don't pay any attention to him – he's only doing it for effect. (=to shock or surprise people) 3 in effect a) in operation: The old system of taxation will remain in effect until next May. b) in fact, although perhaps not appearing so: Their response was in effect a refusal. ➔ see also EFFECTIVELY 4 into effect into operation: A new system of taxation will come/be brought/be put into effect next May. 5 take effect a) to come into operation: The new system will take effect next May. b) to begin to produce results: The medicine quickly took effect. 6 to . . . effect fml with (the stated) general meaning or result: He called me a fool, or words to that effect. | She has made an announcement to the effect that more people will lose their jobs. | These weapons were first used, to devastating effect (=causing very great destruction), in 1945. ➔ see also EFFECTS, GREENHOUSE EFFECT, SIDE EFFECT and AFFECT (USAGE)
effect2 v [T] fml to cause; produce: We have tried our best to effect a reconciliation between the two parties. ➔ see AFFECT (USAGE)
ef·fec·tive /ɪ'fektɪv/ adj 1 producing the desired result: Their efforts to improve the school have been very effective. | an effective treatment for hair loss ➔ opposite INEFFECTIVE 2 having a pleasing effect; STRIKING: That's rather an effective use of colour. 3 [no comp.] actual; real: Although there is a parliament, the army is in effective control of the country. 4 [no comp.] in operation: When does the new system become effective? ➔ compare EFFICACIOUS, EFFICIENT and see also COST-EFFECTIVE ➔-ness n [U]
ef·fec·tive·ly /ɪ'fektɪvli/ adv 1 in an effective way 2 in fact, although perhaps not appearing so: Effectively, their response was a refusal. | Chances of a settlement were effectively wrecked by this announcement. ➔ see also in effect (EFFECT1)
ef·fects /ɪ'fekts/ n [P] 1 things, such as recorded sounds, patterns of lights, man-made objects, or creatures intended to seem real, that are produced to be heard or seen in a film, broadcast, or theatrical production: He won an award for the special effects he did for this film. ➔ see also SOUND EFFECTS 2 fml or law belongings; personal property: The deceased left no (personal) effects.
ef·fec·tu·al /ɪ'fektʃuəl/ adj fml (of an action) producing the intended effect; effective: effectual measures to combat unemployment ➔ opposite INEFFECTUAL ➔-ly adv
ef·fec·tu·ate /ɪ'fektʃueɪt/ v [T] fml to carry out successfully; effect
ef·fem·i·nate /ɪ'femɪnət/ adj derog (of a man or his behaviour) having qualities that are regarded as typical of women; unmanly ➔-ly adv ➔-nacy n [U]
ef·fer·vesce /ˌefə'ves|,efər-/ v [I] fml or tech (of a liquid) to have BUBBLES forming inside, usually by chemical action. The bubbles are usually produced quickly and in large numbers.
ef·fer·vesc·ent /ˌefə'vesənt, ǁˌefər-/ adj 1 (of a liquid) effervescing 2 (of a person) full of life and excitement ➔-ly adv ➔-ence n [U]
ef·fete /ɪ'fiːt|le-/ adj fml derog 1 weak; worn out; having lost one's original power 2 effeminate: an effete young man ➔-ness n [U]
ef·fi·ca·cious /ˌefɪ'keɪʃəs/ adj fml (of a medicine, a course of action etc) producing the desired effect, especially in curing an illness or dealing with a problem: an efficacious remedy ➔ compare EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT ➔-ly adv
ef·fi·ca·cy /'efɪkəsi/ n [U] fml the quality of being efficacious
ef·fi·cient /ɪ'fʃənt/ adj working well, quickly, and without waste: Our efficient new machines are much cheaper to run. | She is a quick efficient worker. ➔ opposite INEFFICIENT; compare EFFECTIVE, EFFICACIOUS ➔-ly adv ➔-ciency n [U] It would improve our efficiency if we used more up-to-date methods.
ef·fi·gy /'efɪdʒi/ n [(of)] a likeness of a person, made of wood, paper, stone etc often life size: The protesters burnt an effigy of the Prime Minister.
ef·flo·res·cence /ˌeflə'resəns/ n [U] fml or tech the period or action of the forming and developing of flowers on a plant
ef·flu·ent /'efluənt/ n [C usually pl;U] tech liquid waste, such as chemicals or SEWAGE (human waste material), that flows out from a factory or similar place, usually into a river or the sea: There is a law against dangerous effluent(s) being poured into our rivers.
ef·flux /'eflʌks/ n [U] fml or tech the outward flow of gas or liquid
ef·fort /'efət||'efərt/ n 1 {S;U} (something that needs) the use of physical strength or power of the mind; trying hard with mind or body: It's quite an effort to lift this heavy box. | It took a lot of effort to lift it. | We lifted it without much effort. | A great deal of effort has gone into this exhibition. 2 [C] an attempt using all one's powers: Despite all our efforts we were still beaten. | [+to-v] The prisoner made no effort to escape. (=didn't try to escape) | Please make an effort (=try hard) to get there on time. | The company is selling off some of its buildings in an effort to save money. 3 [C] something made or done as the result of trying: Finishing the work in one day was a very good effort. | These essays of yours are very poor efforts.
ef·fort·less /'efətləs||'efərt-/ adj seeming to make or need no effort, yet very good: She skates with such effortless grace. ➔-ly adv ➔-ness n [U]
ef·fron·te·ry /ɪ'frntəri/ n [U] rudeness without any sense of shame; NERVE: [+to-v] You crashed my car and now you have the effrontery to ask to borrow my bicycle.
ef·fu·sion /ɪ'fjuːʒən/ n fml derog an uncontrolled expression of strong feelings in speech or writing: Her effusions of gratitude were clearly insincere.
ef·fu·sive /ɪ'fjuːsɪv/ adj often derog showing (too) much feeling: Her effusive welcome made us feel most uncomfortable. ➔-ly adv: He thanked them effusively. ➔-ness n [U]
E-FIT /'iː fɪt/ trademark BrE a picture, made by using a computer, of a person who the police think was responsible for a crime, which they show on television or the Internet in order to try and catch the person
EFL /ˌiː ef 'el/ n [U] abbrev. for English as a Foreign Language; English as it is taught to people whose first language is not English, especially people who do not live in an English-speaking country ➔ compare ESL, ESOL, ELT
E4 /iː 'fɔːr/ a DIGITAL television CHANNEL belonging to Channel 4 in Britain. It shows DRAMA and COMEDY programmes from the US and the UK.
EFT /ˌiː ef 'tiː/ n [C,U] tech abbrev. for Electronic Funds Transfer
EFTPOS /'eftpos||-pɑːs/ abbrev. for Electronic Funds Transfer at Point Of Sale; a system which allows people to pay for goods by using a DEBIT CARD to move money electronically from their bank accounts. It is used in many shops in the UK, especially using the SWITCH system.
e.g. /ˌiː 'dʒiː/ abbrev. for for example: You must avoid sweet foods, e.g. cake, chocolate, sugar, and ice cream.
e·gal·i·tar·i·an /ˌɪgælɪ'teəriən/ adj often apprec having or showing the belief that all people are equal and should have equal rights: an egalitarian society ➔-ism n [U]
egg1 /eg/ n 1 [C] a rounded object with a usually hard shell which is produced by a female bird, snake etc, and which contains a baby animal until it has developed enough to come out: The hen laid an egg. | The chick hatched out of the egg. 2 [C;U] (the contents of) an egg, especially one laid by a hen, when used for food: I had a boiled egg for breakfast. | You've got egg all down your tie. 3 [C] a cell produced by a woman or female animal, which joins with the male seed (SPERM) to make a baby 4 have egg on one's face infml to be made to seem foolish: The committee's report, which describes this policy as 'a total failure', has left the government with egg on its face. 5 put all one's eggs in one basket infml to depend completely on the success of one thing: When the