Noun | 1. | ![]() chemical science, chemistry - the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions addition reaction - a chemical reaction in which one molecule is added to another aldol reaction - a reaction of aldehydes resulting in an aldol chain reaction - a series of chemical reactions in which the product of one is a reactant in the next chemical equilibrium, equilibrium - a chemical reaction and its reverse proceed at equal rates chemical action, chemical change, chemical process - (chemistry) any process determined by the atomic and molecular composition and structure of the substances involved chemical decomposition reaction, decomposition reaction, decomposition - (chemistry) separation of a substance into two or more substances that may differ from each other and from the original substance displacement reaction, displacement - (chemistry) a reaction in which an elementary substance displaces and sets free a constituent element from a compound double decomposition, double decomposition reaction, metathesis - a chemical reaction between two compounds in which parts of each are interchanged to form two new compounds (AB+CD=AD+CB) elimination reaction - a chemical reaction in which a molecule decomposes to two different molecules endothermic reaction - a chemical reaction accompanied by the absorption of heat exothermic reaction - a chemical reaction accompanied by the evolution of heat hydrolysis - a chemical reaction in which water reacts with a compound to produce other compounds; involves the splitting of a bond and the addition of the hydrogen cation and the hydroxide anion from the water neutralisation, neutralisation reaction, neutralization reaction, neutralization - a chemical reaction in which an acid and a base interact with the formation of a salt; with strong acids and bases the essential reaction is the combination of hydrogen ions with hydroxyl ions to form water oxidation, oxidisation, oxidization - the process of oxidizing; the addition of oxygen to a compound with a loss of electrons; always occurs accompanied by reduction oxidation-reduction, oxidoreduction, redox - a reversible chemical reaction in which one reaction is an oxidation and the reverse is a reduction photochemical reaction - a chemical reaction produced by the action of light reducing, reduction - any process in which electrons are added to an atom or ion (as by removing oxygen or adding hydrogen); always occurs accompanied by oxidation of the reducing agent saponification - a chemical reaction in which an ester is heated with an alkali (especially the alkaline hydrolysis of a fat or oil to make soap) |
2. | reaction - an idea evoked by some experience; "his reaction to the news was to start planning what to do" | |
3. | reaction - a bodily process occurring due to the effect of some antecedent stimulus or agent; "a bad reaction to the medicine"; "his responses have slowed with age" automatism - any reaction that occurs automatically without conscious thought or reflection (especially the undirected behavior seen in psychomotor epilepsy) rebound - a reaction to a crisis or setback or frustration; "he is still on the rebound from his wife's death" overreaction - an excessive reaction; a reaction with inappropriate emotional behavior electrical skin response, electrodermal response, Fere phenomenon, galvanic skin response, GSR, psychogalvanic response, Tarchanoff phenomenon - a change in the electrical properties of the skin in response to stress or anxiety; can be measured either by recording the electrical resistance of the skin or by recording weak currents generated by the body immune reaction, immune response, immunologic response - a bodily defense reaction that recognizes an invading substance (an antigen: such as a virus or fungus or bacteria or transplanted organ) and produces antibodies specific against that antigen tropism - an involuntary orienting response; positive or negative reaction to a stimulus source taxis - a locomotor response toward or away from an external stimulus by a motile (and usually simple) organism kinesis - a movement that is a response to a stimulus but is not oriented with respect to the source of stimulation double take - a delayed reaction indicating surprise inborn reflex, innate reflex, instinctive reflex, physiological reaction, reflex, reflex action, reflex response, unconditioned reflex - an automatic instinctive unlearned reaction to a stimulus learned reaction, learned response - a reaction that has been acquired by learning passing, passage - a bodily reaction of changing from one place or stage to another; "the passage of air from the lungs"; "the passing of flatus" answer - a nonverbal reaction; "his answer to any problem was to get drunk"; "their answer was to sue me" transfusion reaction - reaction of the body to a transfusion of blood that is not compatible with its own blood; an adverse reaction can range from fever and hives to renal failure and shock and death bodily function, bodily process, body process, activity - an organic process that takes place in the body; "respiratory activity" | |
4. | reaction - (mechanics) the equal and opposite force that is produced when any force is applied to a body; "every action has an equal and opposite reaction" mechanics - the branch of physics concerned with the motion of bodies in a frame of reference force - (physics) the influence that produces a change in a physical quantity; "force equals mass times acceleration" | |
5. | ![]() response - a result; "this situation developed in response to events in Africa" | |
6. | reaction - extreme conservatism in political or social matters; "the forces of reaction carried the election" conservatism, conservativism - a political or theological orientation advocating the preservation of the best in society and opposing radical changes | |
7. | reaction - doing something in opposition to another way of doing it that you don't like; "his style of painting was a reaction against cubism" opposition, resistance - the action of opposing something that you disapprove or disagree with; "he encountered a general feeling of resistance from many citizens"; "despite opposition from the newspapers he went ahead" backlash - an adverse reaction to some political or social occurrence; "there was a backlash of intolerance" |