action
ac•tion (ak´ən) n.
[[ME accion < OFr action < L actio < pp. of agere: see ACT1]]
1 the doing of something; state of being in motion or of working
2 an act or thing done
3 behavior; habitual conduct
4 habitual activity characterized by energy and boldness [a man of action]
5 the effect produced by something [the action of a drug]
6 the way of moving, working, etc., as of a machine, an organ of the body, etc.
7 the moving parts or mechanism, as of a gun, piano, etc.
8 the sequence of happenings in a story or play; plot
b) any of such happenings
c) such happenings when exciting
9 a legal proceeding by which one seeks to have a wrong put right; lawsuit
10a) a military encounter
b) military combat in general
11 the appearance of animation in a painting, sculpture, etc.
12 Slang activity or excitement
a) gambling activity
b) sexual activity
–adj. designating or of a type of film characterized by a fast-paced plot, a series of suspenseful confrontations, violent fight and chase scenes, etc
–SYN BATTLE1
–bring action to start a lawsuit
–see action to start a lawsuit
–take action
1 to become active
2 to start a lawsuit
