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active

   Also found in: Medical, Legal, Financial, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.01 sec.
ac·tive  (ktv)
adj.
1. Being in physical motion: active fish in the aquarium.
2. Functioning or capable of functioning.
3.
a. Marked by energetic activity; busy: active stock and bond markets; spent an active day sightseeing.
b. Involving or requiring physical exertion and energy: an active workout at the gym.
4.
a. Being in a state of action; not quiescent: active hostilities along the border.
b. Erupting or liable to erupt; not dormant: an active volcano.
5.
a. Marked by or involving direct participation: took an active interest in politics; played an active role on the committee.
b. Currently in use or effect: an active membership.
c. Openly acknowledged or expressed: an active dislike of the new neighbors.
6. Producing an intended action or effect: active ingredients.
7. Grammar
a. Indicating that the subject of the sentence is performing or causing the action expressed by the verb. Used of a verb form or voice.
b. Expressing action rather than a state of being. Used of verbs such as run, speak, and move.
8. Producing profit, interest, or dividends: active accounts; active stocks.
9. Electronics
a. Being a source of electrical energy, as a generator.
b. Capable of converting or amplifying voltages or currents, as a diode or transistor.
10. Being on full military duty and receiving full pay.
n.
1. Grammar
a. The active voice.
b. A construction or form in the active voice.
2. A participating member of an organization: union actives.

[Middle English actif, from Old French, from Latin ctvus, from ctus, past participle of agere, to drive, do; see ag- in Indo-European roots.]

active·ly adv.
active·ness n.
Synonyms: active, energetic, dynamic, vigorous, lively
These adjectives mean engaged in activity. Active means moving, doing, or functioning: an active toddler; an active imagination; saw active service in the army.
Energetic suggests sustained enthusiastic activity: an energetic competitor.
Dynamic connotes energy and forcefulness that often inspires others: a dynamic leader.
Vigorous implies healthy strength and robustness: a vigorous crusader against drunk driving.
Lively suggests animated alertness: a lively interest in politics.

active [ˈæktɪv]
adj
1. in a state of action; moving, working, or doing something
2. busy or involved an active life
3. physically energetic
4. exerting influence; effective an active ingredient
5. (Linguistics / Grammar) Grammar
a.  denoting a voice of verbs used to indicate that the subject of a sentence is performing the action or causing the event or process described by the verb, as kicked in The boy kicked the football Compare passive [5]
b.  another word for nonstative
6. (Military) being fully engaged in military service (esp in the phrase on active service)
7. (Earth Sciences / Physical Geography) (of a volcano) erupting periodically; not extinct Compare dormant [3] extinct [3]
8. (Astronomy) Astronomy (of the sun) exhibiting a large number of sunspots, solar flares, etc., and a marked variation in intensity and frequency of radio emission Compare quiet [8]
9. (Business / Commerce) Commerce
a.  producing or being used to produce profit, esp in the form of interest active balances
b.  of or denoting stocks or shares that have been actively bought and sold as recorded in the Official List of the London Stock Exchange
10. (Electronics) Electronics
a.  containing a source of power an active network
b.  capable of amplifying a signal or controlling some function an active component an active communication satellite
n
1. (Linguistics / Grammar) Grammar
a.  the active voice
b.  an active verb
2. Chiefly US a member of an organization who participates in its activities
[from Latin āctīvus. See act, -ive]
actively  adv
activeness  n

In surveillance, an adjective applied to actions or equipments which emit energy capable of being detected.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.active - chemical agent capable of activity
chemical agent - an agent that produces chemical reactions
2.active - 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"
voice - (linguistics) the grammatical relation (active or passive) of the grammatical subject of a verb to the action that the verb denotes
3.active - a person who is a participating member of an organization; "the club issues a list of members, both the actives and the retirees"
individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul - a human being; "there was too much for one person to do"
Adj.1.active - tending to become more severe or wider in scope; "active tuberculosis"
pathology - the branch of medical science that studies the causes and nature and effects of diseases
inactive - (pathology) not progressing or increasing; or progressing slowly
2.active - engaged in or ready for military or naval operations; "on active duty"; "the platoon is combat-ready"; "review the fighting forces"
armed forces, armed services, military, military machine, war machine - the military forces of a nation; "their military is the largest in the region"; "the military machine is the same one we faced in 1991 but now it is weaker"
operational - (military) of or intended for or involved in military operations
3.active - disposed to take action or effectuate change; "a director who takes an active interest in corporate operations"; "an active antagonism"; "he was active in drawing attention to their grievances"
passive, inactive - lacking in energy or will; "Much benevolence of the passive order may be traced to a disinclination to inflict pain upon oneself"- George Meredith
4.active - taking part in an activity; "an active member of the club"; "he was politically active"; "the participating organizations"
involved - connected by participation or association or use; "we accomplished nothing, simply because of the large number of people involved"; "the problems involved"; "the involved muscles"; "I don't want to get involved"; "everyone involved in the bribery case has been identified"
5.active - characterized by energetic activity; "an active toddler"; "active as a gazelle"; "an active man is a man of action"
lively - full of life and energy; "a lively discussion"; "lively and attractive parents"; "a lively party"
energetic - possessing or exerting or displaying energy; "an energetic fund raiser for the college"; "an energetic group of hikers"; "it caused an energetic chemical reaction"
inactive - not active physically or mentally; "illness forced him to live an inactive life"; "dreamy and inactive by nature"
6.active - exerting influence or producing a change or effect; "an active ingredient"
inactive - not exerting influence or change
7.active - full of activity or engaged in continuous activity; "an active seaport"; "an active bond market"; "an active account"
inactive - lacking activity; lying idle or unused; "an inactive mine"; "inactive accounts"; "inactive machinery"
8.active - in operation; "keep hope alive"; "the tradition was still alive"; "an active tradition"
existent, existing - having existence or being or actuality; "an attempt to refine the existent machinery to make it more efficient"; "much of the beluga caviar existing in the world is found in the Soviet Union and Iran"
9.active - (of the sun) characterized by an increased occurrence of sunspots and flares and radio emissions
astronomy, uranology - the branch of physics that studies celestial bodies and the universe as a whole
quiet - of the sun characterized by a low level of surface phenomena like sunspots e.g.
10.active - expressing that the subject of the sentence has the semantic function of actor: "Hemingway favors active constructions"
grammar - the branch of linguistics that deals with syntax and morphology (and sometimes also deals with semantics)
passive - expressing that the subject of the sentence is the patient of the action denoted by the verb; "academics seem to favor passive sentences"
11.active - (used of verbs (e.g. `to run') and participial adjectives (e.g. `running' in `running water')) expressing action rather than a state of being
grammar - the branch of linguistics that deals with syntax and morphology (and sometimes also deals with semantics)
stative - ( used of verbs (e.g. `be' or `own') and most participial adjectives) expressing existence or a state rather than an action
12.active - (of e.g. volcanos) capable of erupting
live - exerting force or containing energy; "live coals"; "tossed a live cigarette out the window"; "got a shock from a live wire"; "live ore is unmined ore"; "a live bomb"; "a live ball is one in play"
extinct - (of e.g. volcanos) permanently inactive; "an extinct volcano"
13.active - (of e.g. volcanos) erupting or liable to erupt; "active volcanos"
volcano, vent - a fissure in the earth's crust (or in the surface of some other planet) through which molten lava and gases erupt
dormant, inactive - (of e.g. volcanos) not erupting and not extinct ; "a dormant volcano"
14.active - engaged in full-time work; "active duty"; "though past retirement age he is still active in his profession"
inactive - not engaged in full-time work; "inactive reserve"; "an inactive member"

active
adjective
1. busy, involved, occupied, engaged, tiring, lively, energetic, bustling, restless, on the move, strenuous, tireless, on the go (informal) Having an active youngster about the house can be quite wearing.
busy slow, lazy, idle, sluggish, inactive, sedentary, unoccupied
2. energetic, strong, spirited, quick, vital, alert, dynamic, lively, vigorous, potent, animated, vibrant, forceful, nimble, diligent, industrious, sprightly, vivacious, on the go (informal), alive and kicking, spry, full of beans (informal), bright-eyed and bushy-tailed (informal) the tragedy of an active mind trapped by failing physical health
energetic dull, dormant, inactive, unimaginative, torpid, inoperative
4. in operation, working, live, running, moving, acting, functioning, stirring, at work, in business, in action, operative, in force, effectual, astir Guerrilla groups are active in the province.
Translations
active [ˈæktɪv]
A. ADJ
1. (= lively) [person, brain] → activo; [imagination] → vivo
he has an active mindtiene una mente muy activa
2. (= busy) [life, day, period] → de mucha actividad, muy movido
3. (= not passive) [member, population] → activo
guerrilla groups are active in the provincegrupos de guerrilleros están luchando en la provincia
animals which are active at nightlos animales que desarrollan su actividad por la noche
we are giving it active considerationlo estamos estudiando en serio
to take an active interest in sthinteresarse vivamente por algo
after 17 years' active involvement in the partydespués de 17 años de militar activamente en el partido
to play or take an active part in sthparticipar activamente en algo
he withdrew from active participation in the projectdejó de participar activamente en el proyecto
to be politically active, to be active in politicsmilitar políticamente
he played an active role in bringing about a ceasefiredesempeñó un papel activo a la hora de conseguir el alto al fuego
to be sexually activetener relaciones sexuales
the government must take active steps to bring down inflationel gobierno debe tomar medidas directas para bajar la inflación
4. (= not extinct) [volcano] → en actividad
5. (Chem, Phys, Electronics) → activo
the active ingredientel ingrediente activo
6. (Fin, Comm) [trading, market] → activo
active assetsactivo msing productivo
active balancesaldo m activo
active moneydinero m activo, dinero m disponible
active partnersocio/a m/f activo/a
active trade balancebalanza f comercial favorable, balanza f comercial acreedora
7. (Mil)
active service or > duty (US) → servicio m activo
to be on active service or dutyestar en activo
to die on active servicemorir en acto de servicio
he saw active service in Italy and Germanyestuvo en servicio activo en Italia y Alemania
8. (Ling, Gram)
active vocabularyvocabulario m activo
the active voicela voz activa
in the active voiceen voz activa
B. N (Gram) the activela voz activa
C. CPD active birth N (Med) → parto m natural
active file N (Comput) → fichero m activo
the active list Nla reserva activa
to be on the active listestar en la reserva activa
active suspension N (Aut) → suspensión f activa

active [ˈæktɪv]
adj
(= energetic, busy) [person, life] → actif/ive
He's a very active person → Il est très actif.
(in particular activity, campaign etc) [person, member] → actif/ive; [support, measures] → actif/ive
an active member of the Green Party → un membre actif des Verts
to play an active part in sth → jouer un rôle actif dans qch
to be politically active → être actif/ive politiquement
to be sexually active → être sexuellement actif/ive
[volcano] → en activité
(CHEMISTRY) [substance] → actif/ive
n (GRAMMAR) the active → l'actif
active duty (mainly US) ncampagne f
on active duty → en campagne
active ingredient nprincipe m actif

active
adjaktiv (also Gram, Comput); mind, social liferege; volcanoaktiv, tätig; dislikeoffen, unverhohlen; fileim Gebrauch; (= radioactive)radioaktiv; to be active (terrorists, rebels)operieren; (lawyer, campaigner)aktiv sein; to be physically/politically/sexually activekörperlich/politisch/sexuell aktiv sein; to be active in politicspolitisch aktiv or tätig sein; they should be more active in improving safety standardssie sollten die Verbesserung der Sicherheitsvorschriften etwas tatkräftiger vorantreiben; to be under active considerationernsthaft erwogen werden; on active service (Mil) → im Einsatz; to see active service (Mil) → im Einsatz sein; to be on the active list (Mil) → zur ständigen Verfügung stehen; active duty (esp US Mil) → aktiver Wehrdienst; to be on active duty (esp US Mil) → aktiven Wehrdienst leisten; he played an active part in iter war aktiv daran beteiligt; active assets (Comm) → Aktiva pl; active partner (Comm) → persönlich haftender Gesellschafter; active ingredient (Chem) → aktiver Bestandteil; active suspension (Aut) → aktive Aufhängung
n (Gram) → Aktiv nt; in the activeim Aktiv

active [ˈæktɪv] adj (gen) (Gram) (volcano) → attivo/a
to play an active part in → partecipare attivamente a, prendere parte attiva in
we are giving it active consideration → lo stiamo considerando attentamente

active
adj active [ˈӕktiv]
1 energetic or lively; able to work etc At seventy, he's no longer very active. aktief نَشِيط ، مُفْعَم بِالحَياة енергичен aktivní, čilý aktiv aktiv δραστήριος activo tegus پر جنب و جوش eloisa actif פָּעִיל, פְּעַלתָּן सक्रिय aktivan aktív giat virkur attivo 活動的な 활동적인 veiklus, aktyvus darbīgs; aktīvs cergas actief aktiv, energisk, virksom czynny, aktywny activo activ, energic бодрый aktívny dejaven aktivan aktiv คล่องแคล่ว faal, aktif, enerjik 有活動力的 активний, діяльний سر گرم nhanh nhẹn
2 (busily) involved She is an active supporter of women's rights. aktief فَعَّال،نَاشِط деен agilní aktiv; ivrig aktiv ενεργός activo aktiivne فعال aktiivinen actif פָּעִיל सक्रिय revan lelkes aktif virkur attivo 活発な 적극적인 aktyvus aktīvs aktif actief aktiv i, involvert i zaangażowany activo activ активный agilný aktiven aktivan aktiv ซึ่งทำงานอยู่ faal, aktif 積極的 активний, енергійний عملی tích cực
3 causing an effect or effects Yeast is an active ingredient in bread-making. aktief فَاعِل، نَاشِط، نَاجِع активен aktivní, účinný aktiv; virksom aktiv δραστικός activo aktiivne, toime- موثر vaikuttava actif אַקטִיבִי सक्रिय aktivan ható aktif virkur attivo 活性のある [화학] 활성의 veiksmingas iedarbīgs; efektīvs ramuan aktif werkzaam virksom czynny activo activ быстродействующий, активный účinný aktiven aktivan aktiv, verksam ซึ่งมีผล etkin 起作用的 активний فعال công hiệu
4 in force The rule is still active. van krag سَارِي المَفْعُول، قَائِم действащ platný gyldig in Kraft σε ισχύ en vigor kehtiv پابرجا voimassaoleva en vigueur בְתוֹקֵף प्रभावी na snazi érvényben van berlaku í gildi in vigore 有効な [법] 유효한 galiojantis spēkā esošs masih berkuatkuasa geldig gyldig w mocy, obowiązujący em vigor în vigoare в силе, действующий platný veljaven na snazi i kraft, gällande มีผลบังคับใช้ geçerli 有效的 дійсний نافذ العمل hiệu lực
5 (of volcanoes) still likely to erupt. aktief ثَائِر، نَافِث لِلحِمَم действащ činný aktiv aktiv ενεργός (για ηφαίστειο) en actividad tegev- فعال aktiivinen en activité פָּעִיל सक्रिय aktivan működő giat virkur attivo, in attività 活火山の (화산 등이) 활동중인 veikiantis darbojošies masih aktif werkzaam aktiv czynny activo activ действующий činný delujoč aktivan aktiv ยังคุอยู่ faal (火山)仍可能爆發的 діючий جاندار đang hoạt động ()
6 of the form of a verb in which the subject performs the action of the verb The dog bit the man. akkusatief (فعل) مبني للمعلوم формата на глагола, при която обекта извършва действието činný aktiv (gram.) aktiv ενεργητική φωνή (γραμμ.) activo aktiiv معلوم aktiivi actif הִפְעִיל aktivni oblik cselekvő verba aktif germynd attivo 能動の [문법] 능동(태)의 veikiamoji darāmā kārta; aktīvs kata kerja aktif bedrijvend aktiv czynny activo activ действительный činný tvornik aktivan aktiv ซึ่งประธานเป็นผู้กระทำคำกริยา etken, aktif 主動的 активний стан فعل معروف thể chủ động
n activeness
aktiefheid فَعَالِيَّة/ نَشَاط дейснот činnost det at være aktiv die Betätigung ενεργητικότητα actividad aktiivsus فعالیت aktiivisuus activité פְּעִילוּת सक्रियता aktivnost aktívság, élénkség, hatékonyság aktivitas virkni; atorka attività 活気あること 활동성 aktyvumas aktivitāte keaktifan werkzaamheid det å være aktiv, virksom aktywność actividade dinamism, energie активность činnosť dejavnost aktivnost aktivitet, verksamhet ความคล่องแคล่ว canlılık, aktiflik 活躍,積極性 активність, енергійність سر گرمی ، چستی sự nhanh nhẹn
adv actively
actively engaged in politics. aktief بِفَعَالِيَّة، بِنَشَاط дейно aktivně aktivt aktiv ενεργά, δραστήρια activamente aktiivselt فعالانه aktiivisesti activement בְּאוֹפֶן פָּעִיל,נִמְרָץ सक्रिय रूप से aktivno aktívan giat ötullega attivamente 活発に 활동적으로 aktyviai aktīvi dengan aktif actief aktivt, virksomt czynnie activamente activ активно aktívne dejavno aktivno aktivt อย่างกระฉับกระเฉง faal olarak 積極地 активно فعال طور پر tích cực
n acˈtivity
1 the state of being active or lively The streets are full of activity this morning. aktiwiteit, roering فَعَالِيَّه، نَشَاط оживление živost, ruch aktivitet Aktivität δραστηριότητα, κίνηση actividad tegevus تکاپو؛ فعالیت toiminta activité פְּעִילוּת क्रिया-कलाप aktivnost aktivitás kegiatan athafnasemi attività 活気 활동 veiklumas, gyvumas rosība; aktivitāte penuh aktiviti activiteit aktivitet, virksomhet, liv og røre ruch, ożywienie actividade mişcare; activitate активность;оживление živosť dejavnost živost aktivitet, verksamhet, liv การกระทำอย่างมีชีวิตชีวา faaliyet, canlılık 活動 активність; енергія سرگرمی ، عمل hoạt động
2 something which one does as a pastime, as part of one's job etc His activities include fishing and golf. aktiwiteit, bedrywigheid فَعَالِيَّه، نَشَاط дейност aktivita, činnost aktivitet; fritidsbeskæftigelse Betätigung δραστηριότητα, απασχόληση actividad tegevusala مشغولیت harrastus activité(s) פְּעִילוּת अभिरूचि slobodna aktivnost tevékenység kegiatan tómstundagaman; viðfangsefni attività; passatempo 活動 여가 활동 užsiėmimas nodarbošanās; pasākums aktiviti masa lapang activiteit (fritids)beskjeftigelse zajęcie actividade preocupări деятельность činnosť, aktivita, pôsobenie dejavnost(i) aktivnost aktivitet, sysselsättning งานอดิเรกหรือส่วนหนึ่งของงานที่ทำ faaliyet, etkinlik 休閒活動 діяльність سرگرمی trò giải trí

active نشيط aktivní aktiv aktiv δραστήριος activo aktiivinen actif aktivan attivo 活動的な 활동적인 actief aktiv aktywny activo, ativo активный aktiv คล่องแคล่ว etkin tích cực 活跃的


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Pursued by two very active young men armed with fire-hardened spears, tottering along with incredible swiftness on his two spindle legs, Kwaque had fallen exhausted at Daughtry's feet and looked up at him with the beseeching eyes of a deer fleeing from the hounds.
Now Nietzsche believed that the first or the noble-morality conduced to an ascent in the line of life; because it was creative and active.
From such special adaptations, the similarity of the larvae or active embryos of allied animals is sometimes much obscured; and cases could be given of the larvae of two species, or of two groups of species, differing quite as much, or even more, from each other than do their adult parents.
 
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