Etymology: (bef. 900; ME andswerien, OE andswerian, andswarian, der. of andswaru an answer =and- opposite, facing (cf. and , along ) + Gmc *swarō, der. of swear)
Definition of 'ANSWER'
Princeton's WordNet
1. (noun)answer, reply, response a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation "I waited several days for his answer"; "he wrote replies to several of his critics"
2. (noun)solution, answer, result, resolution, solvent a statement that solves a problem or explains how to solve the problem "they were trying to find a peaceful solution"; "the answers were in the back of the book"; "he computed the result to four decimal places"
3. (noun)answer the speech act of replying to a question
4. (noun)answer the principalpleading by the defendant in response to plaintiff's complaint; in criminal law it consists of the defendant's plea of `guilty' or `not guilty' (or nolo contendere); in civil law it must contain denials of all allegations in the plaintiff's complaint that the defendant hopes to controvert and it can contain affirmative defenses or counterclaims
5. (verb)answer a nonverbal reaction "his answer to any problem was to get drunk"; "their answer was to sue me"
6. (verb)answer, reply, respond react verbally "She didn't want to answer"; "answer the question"; "We answered that we would accept the invitation"
7. (verb)answer respond to a signal "answer the door"; "answer the telephone"
8. (verb)answer give the correct answer or solution to "answer a question"; "answer the riddle"
9. (verb)answer, resolve understand the meaning of "The question concerning the meaning of life cannot be answered"
10. (verb)answer give a defence or refutation of (a charge) or in (an argument) "The defendant answered to all the charges of the prosecution"
11. (verb)answer be liable or accountable "She must answer for her actions"
12. (verb)suffice, do, answer, serve be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity "A few words would answer"; "This car suits my purpose well"; "Will $100 do?"; "A 'B' grade doesn't suffice to get me into medical school"; "Nothing else will serve"
13. (verb)answer match or correspond "The drawing of the suspect answers to the description the victim gave"
14. (verb)answer be satisfactory for; meet the requirements of or serve the purpose of "This may answer her needs"
15. (verb)answer react to a stimulus or command "The steering of my new car answers to the slightest touch"
2. (noun)ANSWER to speak or write in return to, as in return to a call or question, or to a speech, declaration, argument, or the like; to reply to (a question, remark, etc.); to respond to
3. (noun)ANSWER to respond to satisfactorily; to meet successfully by way of explanation, argument, or justification, and the like; to refute
12. (noun)ANSWER something said or written in reply to a question, a call, an argument, an address, or the like; a reply
13. (noun)ANSWER something done in return for, or in consequence of, something else; a responsive action
14. (noun)ANSWER a solution, the result of a mathematical operation; as, the answer to a problem
15. (noun)ANSWER a counter-statement of facts in a course of pleadings; a confutation of what the other party has alleged; a responsive declaration by a witness in reply to a question. In Equity, it is the usual form of defense to the complainant's charges in his bill
16. (verb)ANSWER to speak or write by way of return (originally, to a charge), or in reply; to makeresponse
18. (verb)ANSWER to render account, or to be responsible; to be accountable; to make amends; as, the man mustanswer to his employer for the money intrusted to his care
20. (verb)ANSWER to be or act by way of compliance, fulfillment, reciprocation, or satisfaction; to serve the purpose; as, gypsum answers as a manure on some soils
21. (verb)ANSWER to be opposite, or to act in opposition
22. (verb)ANSWER to be or act as an equivalent, or as adequate or sufficient; as, a very few willanswer
23. (verb)ANSWER to be or act in conformity, or by way of accommodation, correspondence, relation, or proportion; to conform; to correspond; to suit; -- usually with to