Dictionary
an•swer
Pronunciation: (an'sur, än'-), [key]—
n.
1. a spoken or written reply or response to a question, request, letter, etc.:
He sent an answer to my letter promptly.
2. a correct response to a question asked to test one's knowledge.
3. an equivalent or approximation:
a singing group that tried to be the French answer to the Beatles.
4. an action serving as a reply or response:
The answer was a volley of fire.
5. a solution to a problem, esp. in mathematics.
6. a reply to a charge or accusation.
7. Law.a pleading in which a party responds to his or her opponent's statement of position, esp. the defendant's reply to the plaintiff 's complaint.
8. Music.the entrance of a fugue subject, usually on the dominant, either slightly altered or transposed exactly after each presentation in the tonic.
—
v.i.
1. to speak or write in response; make answer; reply.
2. to respond by an act or motion:
He answered with a nod. The champion answered with a right to the jaw.
3. to act or suffer in consequence of (usually fol. by
for).
4. to be or declare oneself responsible or accountable (usually fol. by
for):
I will answer for his safety.
5. to be satisfactory or serve (usually fol. by
for):
His cane answered for a baseball bat.
6. to conform; correspond (usually fol. by
to):
The prisoner answered to the description issued by the police.
—
v.t.
1. to speak or write in response to; reply to:
to answer a person; to answer a question.
2. to act or move in response to:
Answer the doorbell. We answered their goal with two quick goals of our own.
3. to solve or present a solution of.
4. to serve or fulfill:
This will answer the purpose.
5. to discharge (a responsibility, claim, debt, etc.).
6. to conform or correspond to; be similar or equivalent to:
This dog answers your description.
7. to atone for; make amends for.
8. to reply or respond favorably to:
I would like to answer your request but am unable to do so.
9. answer back,to reply impertinently or rudely:
Well-behaved children do not answer back when scolded.
10. answer the helm, Naut.(of a vessel) to maneuver or remain steady according to the position of the rudder.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
