act

act (http://definr.com/act)

     n 1: a legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a
          committee or society or legislative body [syn: enactment]
     2: something that people do or cause to happen [syn: {human
        action}, human activity]
     3: a subdivision of a play or opera or ballet
     4: a short theatrical performance that is part of a longer
        program; "he did his act three times every evening"; "she
        had a catchy little routine"; "it was one of the best
        numbers he ever did" [syn: routine, number, turn, bit]
     5: a manifestation of insincerity; "he put on quite an act for
        her benefit"
     6: the performance of some composite cognitive activity; an
        operation that affects mental contents; "the process of
        thinking"; "the act of remembering" [syn: process, {cognitive
        process}, operation, cognitive operation]
     v 1: perform an action; "think before you act"; "We must move
          quickly" [syn: move] [ant: refrain]
     2: behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct
        or comport oneself; "You should act like an adult"; "Don't
        behave like a fool"; "What makes her do this way?"; "She
        played the servant her husband's master" [syn: behave, do]
     3: play a role or part; "Gielgud played Hamlet"; "She wants to
        act Lady Macbeth, but she is too young for the role" [syn:
         play, represent]
     4: discharge one's duties; "She acts as the chair"; "In what
        capacity are you acting?"
     5: pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind; "He
        acted the idiot"; "She plays deaf when the news are bad"
        [syn: play, act as]
     6: be suitable for theatrical performance: "This scene acts
        well"
     7: have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or
        expected; "The voting process doesn't work as well as
        people thought"; "How does your idea work in practice?";
        "This method doesn't work"; "The breaks of my new car act
        quickly"; "The medicine works only if you take it with a
        lot of water" [syn: work]
     8: be engaged in an activity, often for no particular purpose
        other than pleasure
     9: behave unnaturally or affectedly; "She's just acting" [syn:
        dissemble, pretend]
     10: perform on a stage or theater; "She acts in this play"; "He
         acted in "Julius Caesar"; "I played in "A Christmas
         Carol" [syn: play, roleplay, playact]