Definitions for effectɪˈfɛkt

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

ef•fect^*ɪˈfɛkt(n.)

something that is produced by an agency or cause; result; consequence.
power to produce results; efficacy; force:
The protest had no effect.
the state of being effective or operative; operation or execution:
to bring a plan into effect.
a mental or emotional impression produced, as by a painting or speech.
general meaning or purpose; intent:
I wrote a letter to that effect.
the making of a desired impression:
The expensive car was only for effect.
an illusory phenomenon:
a three-dimensional effect.
a scientific phenomenon (usu. named for its discoverer):
the Doppler effect.
(v.t.)to produce as an effect; bring about; accomplish:
to effect a change.

Idioms for effect:

in effect, essentially; basically.
Category: Idiom
take effect, to go into operation; begin to function. to produce a result.
Category: Idiom

^* Syn: effect , consequence , result refer to something produced by an action or a cause. An effect is that which is produced, usu. more or less immediately and directly: The drug had the effect of producing sleep. A consequence , something that follows naturally or logically, as in a train of events or sequence of time, is less intimately connected with its cause than is an effect: One consequence of a recession is a rise in unemployment. A result may be near or remote, and often is the sum of effects or consequences as making an end or final outcome: The English language is the result of the fusion of many different elements.Usage: See affect1.

Origin of effect:

1350–1400; ME < L effectus the carrying out (of a task, etc.), hence, that which is achieved, outcome

ef•fect′i•ble(adj.)

Princeton's WordNet

consequence, effect, outcome, result, event, issue, upshot(noun)
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
"the magnetic effect was greater when the rod was lengthwise"; "his decision had depressing consequences for business"; "he acted very wise after the event"
impression, effect(noun)
an outward appearance
"he made a good impression"; "I wanted to create an impression of success"; "she retained that bold effect in her reproductions of the original painting"
effect(noun)
an impression (especially one that is artificial or contrived)
"he just did it for effect"
effect, essence, burden, core, gist(noun)
the central meaning or theme of a speech or literary work
effect, force(noun)
(of a law) having legal validity
"the law is still in effect"
effect(verb)
a symptom caused by an illness or a drug
"the effects of sleep loss"; "the effect of the anesthetic"
effect, effectuate, set up(verb)
produce
"The scientists set up a shock wave"
effect(verb)
act so as to bring into existence
"effect a change"

Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary

effect(noun)ɪˈfɛkt
the result or impact of sth
to have a beneficial/negative effect; the effects of sleep deprivation on the brain
effectɪˈfɛkt
an artificially produced sound or image
sound/visual effects
effectɪˈfɛkt
the possessions found on a dead person
effectɪˈfɛkt
to begin to happen or exist
The new law will come into effect next Friday.
effectɪˈfɛkt
to begin to produce a result
***The medication may not take effect immediately.
effectɪˈfɛkt
to begin to be used
The law took effect in January 1989.

Wiktionary

effect(Noun)
The result or outcome of a cause. See usage notes below.
The effect of the hurricane was a devastated landscape.
effect(Noun)
An illusion produced by technical means (as in "special effect")
The effect of flying was most convincing.
effect(Noun)
An alteration in sound after it has been produced by an instrument.
I use an echo effect here to make the sound more mysterious.
effect(Noun)
A device for producing an alteration in sound produced by an instrument.
I just bought a couple of great effects.
effect(Noun)
The state of being binding and enforceable, as in a rule, policy, or law.
The new law will come into effect on the first day of next year.
effect(Noun)
A scientific phenomenon, usually named after its discoverer.
Doppler effect
effect(Noun)
Belongings, usually as personal effects.
effect(Verb)
To make or bring about; to implement.
The best way to effect change is to work with existing stakeholders.

Origin: For noun: from effect (French: effet), from effectus, from efficio; see effect as a verb.

Webster Dictionary

Effect(noun)
execution; performance; realization; operation; as, the law goes into effect in May
Effect(noun)
manifestation; expression; sign
Effect(noun)
in general: That which is produced by an agent or cause; the event which follows immediately from an antecedent, called the cause; result; consequence; outcome; fruit; as, the effect of luxury
Effect(noun)
impression left on the mind; sensation produced
Effect(noun)
power to produce results; efficiency; force; importance; account; as, to speak with effect
Effect(noun)
consequence intended; purpose; meaning; general intent; -- with to
Effect(noun)
the purport; the sum and substance
Effect(noun)
reality; actual meaning; fact, as distinguished from mere appearance
Effect(noun)
goods; movables; personal estate; -- sometimes used to embrace real as well as personal property; as, the people escaped from the town with their effects
Effect(verb)
to produce, as a cause or agent; to cause to be
Effect(verb)
to bring to pass; to execute; to enforce; to achieve; to accomplish

Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms

effect
1. The physical or behavioral state of a system that results from an action, a set of actions, or another effect. 2. The result, outcome, or consequence of an action. 3. A change to a condition, behavior, or degree of freedom.