answer

answer: answer [an′sər, än′sər]

n.

[ME andsware < OE andswaru < and-, against + swerian, SWEAR]

1. something said or written in return to a question, argument, letter, etc.

2. any act in response or retaliation [his answer was a well-aimed blow]

3. one that is a counterpart or equivalent of another, often as the result of imitation [Japan's answer to Sherlock Holmes]

4. a solution to a problem

5. Law a written pleading by which the defendant replies to the plaintiff's charges; defense

6. Music in a fugue, the second or fourth restatement of the subject in another voice and transposed to another key, usually at the interval of a fourth or fifth

vi.

1. to reply in words, by an action, etc.

2. to react to a stimulus; respond (to) [the horse answered to its rider's touch]

3. to serve the purpose; be sufficient

4. to be responsible or liable (to a person for an action, accusation, etc.)

5. to be in conformity; correspond (to) [he answers to the description]

vt.

1.

a) to reply to in words, by an action, etc.

b) to say or write in reply

2. to respond to the signal of (a telephone, doorbell, etc.)

3. to fulfill satisfactorily; comply with; be sufficient for; serve [the makeshift tent answered their purpose]

4. to defend oneself against (an accusation, criticism, etc.); refute

5. to agree with; conform to; suit [he answers the description]

6. Obs. to atone for

——————

answer back

Informal to reply forcefully, rudely, or impertinently; talk back

SYN.- ANSWER implies a saying, writing, or acting in return, as required by the situation or by courtesy [to answer a letter, the phone, etc. ]; RESPOND implies an appropriate reaction made voluntarily or spontaneously to that which serves as a stimulus [to respond to an appeal ]; REPLY in its strictest application refers to an answer that satisfies in detail the question asked; RETORT¹ suggests a reply, esp. one that is sharp or witty, provoked by a charge or criticism; REJOIN² implies an answer, originally to a reply, now often to an objection

-ANT. QUESTION, ASK, INQUIRE

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Synonyms:

Reply (especially to a question), rejoin, respond, say in reply, make answer, reply, or response, Reply to, respond to, make answer to, Reply, response, rejoinder, replication, retort, counter-statement / Be accountable, be responsible or liable, be security, go surety, Refute, meet by argument or explanation, Refutation, confutation, defence, plea / Correspond, be correlated, be counterpart, be like, be similar, Satisfy, fulfil, be suitable to, be sufficient for / Do, pass, serve, suit, be sufficient, be enough, do well enough, pass muster, be of use

Look at other dictionaries:

answer — an·swer 1 n 1: the defendant s written response to the plaintiff s complaint in a civil suit in which he or she may deny any of plaintiff s allegations, offer any defenses, and make any counterclaims against the plaintiff, cross claims against… … Law dictionary
answer — n reply, response, rejoinder, retort (see under ANSWER vb 1) Analogous words: defense, vindication, justification (see corresponding verbs at MAINTAIN): refutation, rebuttal (see corresponding verbs at DISPROVE) Contrasted words: question, query … New Dictionary of Synonyms
answer to — 1. To give an indication of accepting as one s name 2. To have as one s name (informal) 3. To be accountable to • • • Main Entry: ↑answer * * * answer to (the name of) often humorous be called … Useful english dictionary
Answer — An swer ([a^]n s[ e]r), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Answered} ([a^]n s[ e]rd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Answering}.] [OE. andswerien, AS. andswerian, andswarian, to answer, fr. andswaru, n., answer. See {Answer}, n.] 1. To speak in defense against; to reply to… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Answer — An swer, v. i. 1. To speak or write by way of return (originally, to a charge), or in reply; to make response. [1913 Webster] There was no voice, nor any that answered. 1 Kings xviii. 26. [1913 Webster] 2. To make a satisfactory response or… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Answer — An swer, n. [OE. andsware, AS. andswaru; and against + swerian to swear. [root]177, 196. See {Anti }, and {Swear}, and cf. 1st {un }.] 1. A reply to a charge; a defense. [1913 Webster] At my first answer no man stood with me. 2 Tim. iv. 16. [1913 … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Answer Me — is a popular song, originally written (with German lyrics, under the title Mutterlein ) by Gerhard Winkler and Fred Rauch. The English lyrics were written by Carl Sigman in 1952. After the song was recorded by David Whitfield and Frankie Laine in … Wikipedia
Answer — Pour l’article homonyme, voir The Answer. Answer est un film américain indépendant réalisé par Spike Lee en 1980. Fiche technique Réalisation : Spike Lee Pays … Wikipédia en Français
answer to — a person or thing regarded as the equivalent to a better known one from another place: → answer answer to be responsible or report to. → answer … English new terms dictionary
answer — [n] reply; reaction acknowledgment, antiphon, backcap*, back talk, band aid*, close, comeback, comment, cooler*, counterclaim, crack, defense, disclosure, echo, elucidation, explanation, feedback, guff*, interpretation, justification, key, lip*,… … New thesaurus

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