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| Date: | 1200-1300 |
| Language: | Old French |
| Origin: | Latin causa |
Related topics:1 [countable] a person, event, or thing that makes something happen [↪ effect]
root/underlying etc cause 
The cost of the project was enormous, but it was not the fundamental cause of its failure.
The cost of the project was enormous, but it was not the fundamental cause of its failure. cause and effect (=the idea that one thing directly causes another)
die of/from natural causes (=because of old age or an illness, not an accident, murder etc)
2 [uncountable] a fact that makes it right or reasonable for you to feel or behave in a particular way [= reason]
3 [countable] an organization, belief, or aim that a group of people support or fight for
cause of her lifelong devotion to the cause of women's rights
her lifelong devotion to the cause of women's rights champion/further a cause Since founding Island Records, Blackwell has championed the cause of Jamaican music.
Since founding Island Records, Blackwell has championed the cause of Jamaican music.4 to join with other people or groups in order to oppose an enemy : U.S. officials expect other Western governments to make common cause with them over the arrests.
have/make common cause (with/against somebody)
formalU.S. officials expect other Western governments to make common cause with them over the arrests.5 [countable] lawSCL a case that is brought to a court of law
➔ lost cause
at lost2 (12)WORD CHOICE:WORD CHOICE: 
cause, reason A cause is something such as an action, event, or situation that makes something happen • The cause of the accident is not known. • a determination to tackle the causes of crime A reason is an explanation for something • Can you think of any reason why he would behave in this way? • There is a good reason (NOT a good cause) for my decision. GRAMMAR Use the cause of, not 'cause for' or 'cause why' • What is the cause of all this unrest?!!cause for is used in some expressions such as cause for alarm/concern/complaint/optimism/satisfaction • There is no cause for concern. • His remarks give some cause for hope. Use cause somebody to do something, not 'cause that somebody does something' • A cat ran into the road, causing her to brake suddenly (NOT causing that she braked suddenly).
