word-vault

{ "term": "action", "partOfSpeech": "noun", "ox3000": true, "cefr": "a1", "definitions": [ { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "the process of doing something in order to make something happen or to deal with a situation", "cefr": "a1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "The time has come for action if these beautiful animals are to survive." }, { "text": "to threaten/demand/call for action" }, { "text": "Firefighters **took action** immediately to stop the blaze spreading." }, { "text": "Divers were close at hand, ready to **go into action** if the stunt went wrong." }, { "text": "What is the best **course of action** in the circumstances?" }, { "text": "She began to explain her **plan of action** to the group." }, { "text": "The men face **disciplinary action**." }, { "text": "Disciplinary action will be taken against students who cheat." }, { "text": "He urged the government to take decisive action against music piracy." }, { "text": "Is this the best course of action to follow?" }, { "text": "The government is taking strong action on tax fraud." }, { "text": "The leaders have agreed on joint action to combat terrorism." }, { "text": "The situation calls for drastic action." }, { "text": "Unless appropriate action is taken, our sales will decline." }, { "text": "We have to galvanize people into action." }, { "text": "We'll take whatever action is necessary." }, { "text": "action against drug dealers" }, { "text": "Her quick action saved the child's life." }, { "text": "They called off their action at 7.40 am after the meeting was arranged." }, { "text": "Unions said the action could be suspended early on Friday if talks between the two sides resumed." }, { "text": "At the pit level there were activists linked together who could coordinate action even if some of those at the top of the union wanted to hold it back." } ], "collocations": { "adjective": ["decisive", "effective", "firm"], "verb + action": ["take", "call for", "agree on"], "preposition": ["in action", "out of action", "action against"], "phrases": ["actions speak louder than words", "a course of action"] } }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "a thing that somebody does", "cefr": "a1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "Each of us must take responsibility for our own actions." }, { "text": "They sought to **justify their actions**." }, { "text": "There can be no excuse for these actions." }, { "text": "We shall take whatever actions are necessary." }, { "text": "Only the priest can perform these actions." } ], "collocations": { "adjective": ["decisive", "effective", "firm"], "verb + action": ["take", "call for", "agree on"], "preposition": ["in action", "out of action", "action against"], "phrases": ["actions speak louder than words", "a course of action"] } }, { "senseNumber": 3, "definition": "things that workers do, especially stopping work, to protest to their employers about something", "cefr": "b2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "Workers voted in favour of **strike action**." }, { "text": "They called off their action at 7.40 a.m. after the meeting was arranged." }, { "text": "Unions said the action could be suspended early on Friday if talks between the two sides resumed." }, { "text": "The government began taking a hard line against labour actions." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 4, "definition": "a legal process to stop a person or company from doing something, or to make them pay for a mistake, etc.", "sensetop": "action against somebody/something", "cefr": "b2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "A libel action is being brought against the magazine that published the article." }, { "text": "He is considering **taking legal action** against the hospital.", "contextForm": "action against somebody/something" }, { "text": "I considered taking legal action." }, { "text": "Her husband brought a civil action against her after their divorce." }, { "text": "They took out a libel action against the newspaper's owners." } ], "topics": ["Law and justice"], "collocations": { "adjective": ["court", "civil", "criminal"], "verb + action": ["bring", "file", "initiate"], "preposition": ["action against"] } }, { "senseNumber": 5, "definition": "fighting in a battle or war", "sensetop": "in action", "cefr": "b2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "The possibility of **taking military action **has not been ruled out." }, { "text": "I never saw action during the war." }, { "text": "soldiers killed in action", "contextForm": "in action" }, { "text": "He was killed during enemy action." }, { "text": "He was reported missing in action." }, { "text": "paramilitary covert action teams working overseas" } ], "topics": ["History", "War and conflict"], "collocations": { "adjective": ["combat", "enemy", "terrorist"], "verb + action": ["see"], "phrases": [ "killed in action", "missing in action", "wounded in action" ] } }, { "senseNumber": 6, "definition": "the events in a story, play, etc.", "cefr": "b2", "examples": [ { "text": "The action takes place in France." } ], "topics": ["Film and theatre"] }, { "senseNumber": 7, "definition": "exciting events", "examples": [ { "text": "I like films with plenty of action." }, { "text": "New York is where the action is." }, { "text": "If you want to know where all the action is around here, just ask Jo." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 8, "definition": "the effect that something such as a chemical has on something", "sensetop": "action of something (on something)", "examples": [ { "text": "Vitamin D can be made in the body by the action of sunlight on the skin." }, { "text": "The action of the rushing water cleans the gully." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 9, "definition": "the way a part of the body moves or functions", "labels": "(specialist)", "examples": [ { "text": "a study of the action of the liver" } ] }, { "senseNumber": 10, "definition": "the mechanical parts of a piano, gun, clock, etc. or the way the parts move", "cefr": "c2", "examples": [], "topics": ["Engineering"] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "what a person actually does means more than what they say they will do", "labels": "(saying)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "if somebody/something is in action, they are doing the activity or work that is typical for them", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "Just press the button to see your favourite character in action." }, { "text": "I've yet to see all the players in action." }, { "text": "I have not yet seen the machines in action." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "if you put an idea or a plan into action, you start making it happen or work", "examples": [ { "text": "The new plan for traffic control is being put into action on an experimental basis." }, { "text": "We need to put these ideas into action." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "not able to work or be used because of injury or damage", "examples": [ { "text": "Jon will be out of action for weeks with a broken leg." }, { "text": "The photocopier is out of action today." }, { "text": "She is out of action following an ankle injury." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "a share or role in an interesting or exciting activity, especially one that makes money", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "Foreign firms will all want a piece of the action if the new airport goes ahead." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to suddenly start working or doing something", "examples": [ { "text": "‘Let's go!’ he said, springing into action." }, { "text": "The town springs to life *(= becomes busy)* during the carnival." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to start doing something quickly and with a lot of energy", "examples": [ { "text": "The ambulance crew swung into action to resuscitate the patient." }, { "text": "The rescue operation swung into action immediately." }, { "text": "The emergency services swung into action as soon as the disaster was reported." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to act in order to avoid danger or an unpleasant situation", "examples": [ { "text": "The pilot had to take evasive action to avoid a mid-air collision." } ] } ], "pronunciations": { "uk": [ { "pronunciation": "/ˈækʃn/", "audio": "ac/action/action__gb_1.mp3" } ], "us": [ { "pronunciation": "/ˈækʃn/", "audio": "ac/action/action__us_2.mp3" } ] }, "wordOrigin": "late Middle English: via Old French from Latin actio(n-), from agere ‘do, act’." }