- something that is produced by an agency or cause; result; consequence: Exposure to the sun had the effect of toughening his skin.
- power to produce results; efficacy; force; influence: His protest had no effect.
- the state of being operative or functional; operation or execution; accomplishment or fulfillment: to bring a plan into effect.
- a mental or emotional impression produced, as by a painting or a speech.
- meaning or sense; purpose or intention: She disapproved of the proposal and wrote to that effect.
- the making of a desired impression: We had the feeling that the big, expensive car was only for effect.
- an illusory phenomenon: a three-dimensional effect.
- a real phenomenon (usually named for its discoverer): the Doppler effect.
- a special effect, practical effect, or visual effect in a movie, TV show, or other video. Abbreviation: FX
- to produce as an effect; bring about; make happen; accomplish: The new machines finally effected the transition to computerized accounting last spring.
- in effect,
- for practical purposes; virtually: His silence was in effect a confirmation of the rumor.
- essentially; basically.
- operating or functioning; in force: The plan is now in effect.
- take effect,
- to go into operation; begin to function.
- to produce a result: The prescribed medicine failed to take effect.
- something that is produced by a cause or agent; result
- power or ability to influence or produce a result; efficacy
- the condition of being operative (esp in the phrases in or into effect)
- to become operative or begin to produce results
- basic meaning or purpose (esp in the phrase to that effect)
- an impression, usually one that is artificial or contrived (esp in the phrase for effect)
- a scientific phenomenon
- in effect
- in fact; actually
- for all practical purposes
- the overall impression or result
- to cause to occur; bring about; accomplish
