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 active active /ˈækˌtɪv/

adjective

  1. () (pathology) tending to become more severe or wider in scope  ( active )
    (pathology) tending to become more severe or wider in scope
     Active tuberculosis
    active tuberculosis
  2. () (military) engaged in or ready for military or naval operations  ( combat-ready , fighting , active )
    (military) engaged in or ready for military or naval operations
     On active duty
    on active duty
     The platoon is combat-ready
    the platoon is combat-ready
     Review the fighting forces
    review the fighting forces
  3. () Disposed to take action or effectuate change  ( active )
    disposed to take action or effectuate change
     A director who takes an active interest in corporate operations
    a director who takes an active interest in corporate operations
     An active antagonism
    an active antagonism
     He was active in drawing attention to their grievances
    he was active in drawing attention to their grievances
  4. () Taking part in an activity  ( participating , active )
    taking part in an activity
     An active member of the club
    an active member of the club
     He was politically active
    he was politically active
     The participating organizations
    the participating organizations
  5. () Characterized by energetic activity  ( active )
    characterized by energetic activity
     An active toddler
    an active toddler
     Active as a gazelle
    active as a gazelle
     An active man is a man of action
    an active man is a man of action
  6. () Full of activity or engaged in continuous activity  ( active )
    full of activity or engaged in continuous activity
     An active seaport
    an active seaport
     An active bond market
    an active bond market
     An active account
    an active account
  7. () Exerting influence or producing a change or effect  ( active )
    exerting influence or producing a change or effect
     An active ingredient
    an active ingredient
  8. () In operation  ( alive , active )
    in operation
     Keep hope alive
    keep hope alive
     The tradition was still alive
    the tradition was still alive
     An active tradition
    an active tradition
  9. Engaged in full-time work  ( active )
    engaged in full-time work
     Active duty
    active duty
     Though past retirement age he is still active in his profession
    though past retirement age he is still active in his profession
  10. (of e.g. volcanoes) erupting or liable to erupt  ( active )
    (of e.g. volcanoes) erupting or liable to erupt
     Active volcanos
    active volcanos
  11. (of e.g. volcanoes) capable of erupting  ( active )
    (of e.g. volcanoes) capable of erupting
  12. (used of verbs (e.g. to run') and participial adjectives (e.g. running' in running water')) expressing action rather than a state of being  ( active , dynamic )
    (used of verbs (e.g. to run') and participial adjectives (e.g. running' in running water')) expressing action rather than a state of being
  13. (grammar) expressing that the subject of the sentence has the semantic function of actor:  ( active )
    (grammar) expressing that the subject of the sentence has the semantic function of actor:
     Hemingway favors active constructions
    Hemingway favors active constructions
  14. (of the sun) characterized by an increased occurrence of sunspots and flares and radio emissions  ( active )
    (of the sun) characterized by an increased occurrence of sunspots and flares and radio emissions

noun

  1. () Chemical agent capable of activity  ( active agent , active )
    chemical agent capable of activity
  2. A person who is a participating member of an organization  ( active )
    a person who is a participating member of an organization
     The club issues a list of members, both the actives and the retirees
    the club issues a list of members, both the actives and the retirees
  3. The voice used to indicate that the grammatical subject of the verb is performing the action or causing the happening denoted by the verb  ( active , active voice )
    the voice used to indicate that the grammatical subject of the verb is performing the action or causing the happening denoted by the verb
     The boy threw the ball' uses the active voice
    The boy threw the ball' uses the active voice