Definitions for answerˈæn sər, ˈɑn-

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

an•swer^*ˈæn sər, ˈɑn-(n.)

a spoken or written reply or response to a question, request, letter, etc.
a correct response to a question.
an equivalent or approximation; counterpart:
the French answer to the Beatles.
an action serving as a reply or response:
The answer was a volley of fire.
a solution to a problem, esp. in mathematics.
a reply to a charge or accusation.
the defendant's reply to the plaintiff's charge.
Category: Law
(v.i.)to speak or write in response; make answer; reply.
to respond by an act or motion:
He answered with a right to the jaw.
to act or suffer in consequence (usu. fol. by for).
to be or declare oneself responsible or accountable (usu. fol. by for):
I will answer for his safety.
to be satisfactory or serve (usu. fol. by for).
to conform; correspond (usu. fol. by to):
She answered to the description.
(v.t.)to speak or write in response to; reply to.
to act or move in response to:
Answer the doorbell.
to solve or present a solution of.
to serve or fulfill:
This will answer the purpose.
to discharge (a responsibility, claim, debt, etc.).
to conform or correspond to:
This dog answers your description.
to reply or respond favorably to:
to answer a request.
to atone for; make amends for.
answer back, to reply impertinently.
Category: Verb Phrase

^* Syn: answer , reply , response , rejoinder , retort all refer to words used to meet a question, proposal, charge, etc. An answer is something said or written in return: an answer giving the desired information. A reply is usu. somewhat more formal or detailed: a courteous reply to a letter. A response is often a reaction to an appeal, suggestion, etc.: an enthusiastic response to a plea for cooperation. A rejoinder is a quick, usu. clever answer to another person's reply or comment: a rejoinder that silenced the opposition. A retort is a keen, prompt answer, usu. to a charge or criticism: The false accusation provoked a sharp retort.

Origin of answer:

bef. 900; ME andswerien, OE andswerian, andswarian, der. of andswaru an answer =and- opposite, facing (cf. and , along ) + Gmc *swarō, der. of swear

an′swer•less(adj.)

Princeton's WordNet

answer, reply, response(noun)
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"
solution, answer, result, resolution, solvent(noun)
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"
answer(noun)
the speech act of replying to a question
answer(noun)
the principal pleading 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
answer(verb)
a nonverbal reaction
"his answer to any problem was to get drunk"; "their answer was to sue me"
answer, reply, respond(verb)
react verbally
"She didn't want to answer"; "answer the question"; "We answered that we would accept the invitation"
answer(verb)
respond to a signal
"answer the door"; "answer the telephone"
answer(verb)
give the correct answer or solution to
"answer a question"; "answer the riddle"
answer, resolve(verb)
understand the meaning of
"The question concerning the meaning of life cannot be answered"
answer(verb)
give a defence or refutation of (a charge) or in (an argument)
"The defendant answered to all the charges of the prosecution"
answer(verb)
be liable or accountable
"She must answer for her actions"
suffice, do, answer, serve(verb)
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"
answer(verb)
match or correspond
"The drawing of the suspect answers to the description the victim gave"
answer(verb)
be satisfactory for; meet the requirements of or serve the purpose of
"This may answer her needs"
answer(verb)
react to a stimulus or command
"The steering of my new car answers to the slightest touch"

Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary

answer(noun)ˈæn sər, ˈɑn-
a reply or response
an answer to my letter; Give me your answer tomorrow.; I rang the doorbell, but there was no answer.
answerˈæn sər, ˈɑn-
a solution to a test question
the right/wrong answer; to know the answer
answerˈæn sər, ˈɑn-
a solution to a problem
an answer to the energy crisis
answer(verb)ˈæn sər, ˈɑn-
≠ ask
to answer a question; He answered that he didn't know.; You don't have to answer right now.
answerˈæn sər, ˈɑn-
to respond to a knock or ring
to answer the telephone; Don't answer the door.; No-one answered.
answerˈæn sər, ˈɑn-
to give a solution to a test question
to answer correctly

Webster Dictionary

Answer(noun)
to speak in defense against; to reply to in defense; as, to answer a charge; to answer an accusation
Answer(noun)
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
Answer(noun)
to respond to satisfactorily; to meet successfully by way of explanation, argument, or justification, and the like; to refute
Answer(noun)
to be or act in return or response to
Answer(noun)
to be or act in compliance with, in fulfillment or satisfaction of, as an order, obligation, demand; as, he answered my claim upon him; the servant answered the bell
Answer(noun)
to render account to or for
Answer(noun)
to atone; to be punished for
Answer(noun)
to be opposite to; to face
Answer(noun)
to be or act an equivalent to, or as adequate or sufficient for; to serve for; to repay
Answer(noun)
to be or act in accommodation, conformity, relation, or proportion to; to correspond to; to suit
Answer(verb)
to speak or write by way of return (originally, to a charge), or in reply; to make response
Answer(verb)
to make a satisfactory response or return
Answer(verb)
to render account, or to be responsible; to be accountable; to make amends; as, the man must answer to his employer for the money intrusted to his care
Answer(verb)
to be or act in return
Answer(verb)
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
Answer(verb)
to be opposite, or to act in opposition
Answer(verb)
to be or act as an equivalent, or as adequate or sufficient; as, a very few will answer
Answer(verb)
to be or act in conformity, or by way of accommodation, correspondence, relation, or proportion; to conform; to correspond; to suit; -- usually with to
Answer(noun)
a reply to a change; a defense
Answer(noun)
something said or written in reply to a question, a call, an argument, an address, or the like; a reply
Answer(noun)
something done in return for, or in consequence of, something else; a responsive action
Answer(noun)
a solution, the result of a mathematical operation; as, the answer to a problem
Answer(noun)
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