effect
11 ENTRIES FOUND:
plural
effects
plural
effects
Britannica Dictionary definition of EFFECT
1
:
a change that results when something is done or happens
:
an event, condition, or state of affairs that is produced by a cause
—
see also domino effect, greenhouse effect, ripple effect, side effect, snowball effect, placebo effect at placebo
[count]
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The defeat had a terrible effect [=impact] on the team's spirits.
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He now needs more of the drug to achieve/get/produce the same effect.
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The experience has had a bad/adverse/negative effect on him.
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a good/beneficial/positive effect
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Computers have had a profound/significant effect on our lives.
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The effects of the drug soon wore off.
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He was able to stop taking the drug with no ill effects. [=with nothing bad happening]
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This treatment causes fewer ill effects.
[noncount]
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The change in policy had little effect on most people.
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the effect [=influence] of climate on growth
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He was able to stop taking the drug without ill effect.
◊ If something has an effect on something or someone, it changes or influences that thing or person in some way.
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The new regulations may have an effect on small businesses.
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It could have effects on other businesses as well.
2
[count]
:
a particular feeling or mood created by something
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The total effect of the painting was one of gloom.
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The color gives the effect of being warm.
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He achieves/gets amazing effects with wood.
◊ Something that is done for effect is done in a deliberate way to produce a particular feeling or reaction.
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Her tears were only for effect. [=she was crying or pretending to cry to make people feel sympathy for her]
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The movie exaggerates his odd habits for comic/humorous effect.
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Before making the announcement, he paused for dramatic effect. [=he paused to make the announcement more dramatic]
3
[count]
:
an image or a sound that is created in television, radio, or movies to imitate something real
:
special effect
— usually plural
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Computers are essential now in creating effects for the movies.
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sound effects
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visual effects
4
[noncount]
:
the state of something that is actually working or operating
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The policy will be in effect next year.
◊ If a law or something like a law takes effect, comes into effect, or goes into effect, it begins to work or to be enforced.
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The law went/came into effect today.
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The new regulations will take effect next year.
◊ If a drug or something like a drug takes effect, it begins to produce the results it is meant to produce.
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The medication should take effect half an hour after you take the pills.
◊ To give effect to something or to carry/bring/put something into effect is to make it begin doing what it was intended to do.
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The court refused to give effect to that part of the document.
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The company has not yet carried these plans into effect. [=the company has not yet acted on these plans]
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The new regulations will be put into effect next year.
5
effects
[plural]
:
personal property or possessions
-
household effects
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Pick up your (personal) effects before you leave.
in effect
— used to say that one thing has the same effect or result as something else
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The suggestion was in effect an order.
to good effect
◊ If you use something to good/great/fine/outstanding (etc.) effect, you use it in a way that produces good results.
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The city has used these resources to good effect.
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These changes have been implemented to great effect.
to little/no effect
◊ If something is done to little effect or to no effect, it produces little or no change.
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His doctors have repeatedly adjusted his medication to little effect.
to that effect
or to the effect that
— used to indicate that the meaning of words is roughly correct even if the words themselves are not completely accurate
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He said more time was needed to reach a decision, or words to that effect. = He said something to the effect that more time was needed to reach a decision.
2
effect
/ɪˈfɛkt/
verb
effects;
effected;
effecting
2
effect
/ɪˈfɛkt/
verb
effects;
effected;
effecting
Britannica Dictionary definition of EFFECT
[+ object]
formal
1
:
to cause (something)
:
to make (something) happen
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The president could not effect [=bring about] a change in policy.
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They are trying to effect a settlement of the dispute.
2
:
to cause (something) to produce the desired result
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The duty of the legislature is to effect the will of the people.
