- effect
- I UK [ɪˈfekt] / US
noun
Word forms "effect":
singular effect plural effects
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1) [countable/uncountable] a change that is produced in one person or thing by anothereffect on/upon:have an effect on something:Scientists are studying the chemical's effect on the environment.
have some/little/no effect:Any change in lifestyle will have an effect on your health.
an adverse/beneficial effect (= a bad/good effect):The NAFTA agreement has had little effect on the lives of most Americans.
reduce/counter the effect(s) of something:East German companies were suffering the adverse effects of German economic union.
Relaxation can reduce the negative effects of stress on the immune system.
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Collocations:
Adjectives frequently used with effect
▪ adverse, beneficial, cumulative, damaging, detrimental, dramatic, harmful, immediate, knock-on, major, negative, positive, profound, serious, significant, substantial2) [countable] an appearance or reaction that is deliberately produced, for example by a writer, artist, or musicianThe bold colours in this room create a dramatic effect.
get/produce/achieve an effect:That's exactly the effect I wanted.
Students should learn how they can achieve different stylistic effects in their writing.
a) effects[plural] cinema special artificial images and sounds created for a filmI didn't think much of the plot, but the effects were amazing.
b) [countable, usually singular] an artificial appearance given to a surface or to an objectmarble-effect wallpaper
3) [countable, usually singular] something that regularly happens, according to a law, for example in sciencethe Doppler effect
what economists call "the multiplier effect"
4) effects or personal effects[plural] formal the things that belong to you•put/bring/carry something into effect
— to start to use a plan or idea so that it becomes real and has practical resultsI hope the government will put the report's main recommendations into effect.
to the effect that
= to this/that effect — used for showing that you are giving a general idea of what someone said instead of their actual wordsHarry murmured something to the effect that they would all meet Margaret soon enough.
Then Sally said, "Who is this then?" or words to that effect.
to good/full/little etc effect
— used for saying what kind of result something hasHe has used my advice to good effect.
The concerto's slow movement was used to memorable effect in the film 2001.
He turned the key in the ignition but to no effect.
See:side effect
II UK [ɪˈfekt] / US verb [transitive]
Word forms "effect":
present tense I/you/we/they effect he/she/it effects present participle effecting past tense effected past participle effected formal *
to make something happenIf correctly administered, such drugs can effect radical cures.
English dictionary. 2014.