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| Date: | 1300-1400 |
| Language: | Latin |
| Origin: | actus 'doing, act' and actum 'thing done, record', from the past participle of agere 'to drive, do' |
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act1 S1 W1
1 one thing that you do : 
The new president's first act should be to end the war.a thoughtless act
action
[countable]The new president's first act should be to end the war.a thoughtless act act of (doing) something an act of violence her many acts of kindness The act of writing a list can help to calm you down.
an act of violenceher many acts of kindnessThe act of writing a list can help to calm you down. in the act of doing something (=at the moment that you are doing something) Lindsay paused in the act of putting down the phone.
Lindsay paused in the act of putting down the phone.2 a law that has been officially accepted by Parliament or Congress : the Housing and Community Development Act of 1977 an act of Parliament
law
also Act [countable]the Housing and Community Development Act of 1977an act of Parliament3 insincere behaviour in which you pretend to have a particular kind of feeling or to be a particular kind of person : Mike played the loving husband in front of the children but it was all an act.
pretending
[singular]Mike played the loving husband in front of the children but it was all an act.4 to become more organized and behave in a more effective way, especially in order to achieve something : You need to get your act together if you're going to find the right house to buy.
get your act together
informalYou need to get your act together if you're going to find the right house to buy.5 one of the main parts into which a stage play, opera etc is divided : I arrived at the theatre late and missed the first act. the beginning of Act 3
play
[countable]I arrived at the theatre late and missed the first act.the beginning of Act 36 a short performance on stage or television by someone who plays music or tells jokes : The argument was just part of their act.
performance
[countable]The argument was just part of their act.7 a performer or a group of performers who perform together : The band is one of many acts that have been booked for the concert.
performer
[countable]The band is one of many acts that have been booked for the concert.8 someone who does such an excellent job that it would be difficult for someone doing the same job after them to be as good : He has been a very successful captain and will be a hard act to follow.
a hard/tough etc act to follow
He has been a very successful captain and will be a hard act to follow.9 to take part in an activity that someone else has started, especially in order to get a share of the advantages for yourself
get in on the act
informal10 an event that is caused by natural forces, such as a storm, flood, or fire, which you cannot prevent or control
act of God
12 a situation in which you are trying to do several different types of work at the same time
