cause (kôz)n.1. a. The producer of an effect, result, or consequence. b. The one, such as a person, event, or condition, that is responsible for an action or result. 2. A basis for an action or response; a reason: The doctor's report gave no cause for alarm. 3. A goal or principle served with dedication and zeal: "the cause of freedom versus tyranny" (Hannah Arendt). 4. The interests of a person or group engaged in a struggle: "The cause of America is in great measure the cause of all mankind" (Thomas Paine). 5. Law a. A ground for legal action. b. A lawsuit. 6. A subject under debate or discussion. tr.v. caused, caus·ing, caus·es 1. To be the cause of or reason for; result in. 2. To bring about or compel by authority or force: The moderator invoked a rule causing the debate to be ended.
[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin causa, reason, purpose.]
caus a·ble adj. cause less adj. caus er n. Synonyms: cause, reason, occasion, antecedent These nouns denote what brings about or is associated with an effect or result. A cause is an agent or condition that permits the occurrence of an effect or leads to a result: "He is not only dull in himself, but the cause of dullness in others" (Samuel Foote). Reason refers to what explains the occurrence or nature of an effect: There was no obvious reason for the accident. Occasion is a situation that permits or stimulates existing causes to come into play: "The immediate occasion of his departure ... was the favorable opportunity ... of migrating in a pleasant way" (Thomas De Quincey). Antecedent refers to what has gone before and implies a relationship  but not necessarily a causal one  with what ensues: Some of the antecedents of World War II lie in economic conditions in Europe following World War I. |
cause Noun 1. something that produces a particular effect 2. grounds for action; justification: there is cause for concern 3. an aim or principle which an individual or group is interested in and supports: the Socialist cause Verb [causing, caused] to be the cause of [Latin causa] causeless adj
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms | Noun | 1. | cause - events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something; "they are trying to determine the cause of the crash"antecedent - a preceding occurrence or cause or event factor - anything that contributes causally to a result; "a number of factors determined the outcome" producer - something that produces; "Maine is a leading producer of potatoes"; "this microorganism is a producer of disease" | | 2. | cause - a justification for something existing or happening; "he had no cause to complain"; "they had good reason to rejoice"justification - a statement in explanation of some action or belief | | 3. | cause - a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end; "he supported populist campaigns"; "they worked in the cause of world peace"; "the team was ready for a drive toward the pennant"; "the movement to end slavery"; "contributed to the war effort"venture - any venturesome undertaking especially one with an uncertain outcome charm campaign - a campaign of flattery and friendliness (by a company, politician, etc.) to become more popular and gain support consumerism - a movement advocating greater protection of the interests of consumers lost cause - a defeated cause or a cause for which defeat is inevitable reform - a campaign aimed to correct abuses or malpractices; "the reforms he proposed were too radical for the politicians" war - a concerted campaign to end something that is injurious; "the war on poverty"; "the war against crime" | | 4. | cause - any entity that produces an effect or is responsible for events or resultsagent - an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect; "their research uncovered new disease agents" nature - a causal agent creating and controlling things in the universe; "the laws of nature"; "nature has seen to it that men are stronger than women" occult, supernatural - supernatural forces and events and beings collectively; "She doesn't believe in the supernatural" theurgy - the effect of supernatural or divine intervention in human affairs destiny, fate - the ultimate agency regarded as predetermining the course of events (often personified as a woman); "we are helpless in the face of destiny" catalyst - something that causes an important event to happen; "the invasion acted as a catalyst to unite the country" deus ex machina - any active agent who appears unexpectedly to solve an insoluble difficulty manipulator, operator - an agent that operates some apparatus or machine; "the operator of the switchboard" power, force - one possessing or exercising power or influence or authority; "the mysterious presence of an evil power"; "may the force be with you"; "the forces of evil" engine - something used to achieve a purpose; "an engine of change" cause of death, killer - the causal agent resulting in death; "heart disease is the biggest killer in the United States" danger - a cause of pain or injury or loss; "he feared the dangers of traveling by air" agent - a substance that exerts some force or effect | | 5. | cause - a comprehensive term for any proceeding in a court of law whereby an individual seeks a legal remedy; "the family brought suit against the landlord"civil suit - a lawsuit alleging violations of civil law by the defendant countersuit - a suit brought against someone who has sued you criminal suit - a lawsuit alleging violations of criminal law by the defendant moot - a hypothetical case that law students argue as an exercise; "he organized the weekly moot" bastardy proceeding, paternity suit - a lawsuit filed to determine the father of a child born out of wedlock (and to provide for the support of the child once paternity is determined) law, jurisprudence - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order" | | Verb | 1. | cause - give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally; "cause a commotion"; "make a stir"; "cause an accident"create, make - make or cause to be or to become; "make a mess in one's office"; "create a furor" initiate, pioneer - take the lead or initiative in; participate in the development of; "This South African surgeon pioneered heart transplants" make - compel or make somebody or something to act in a certain way; "People cannot be made to integrate just by passing a law!"; "Heat makes you sweat" impel, force - urge or force (a person) to an action; constrain or motivate facilitate - increase the likelihood of (a response); "The stimulus facilitates a delayed impulse" | | 2. | cause - cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner; "The ads induced me to buy a VCR"; "My children finally got me to buy a computer"; "My wife made me buy a new sofa"decide - cause to decide; "This new development finally decided me!" persuade - cause somebody to adopt a certain position, belief, or course of action; twist somebody's arm; "You can't persuade me to buy this ugly vase!" bring - induce or persuade; "The confession of one of the accused brought the others to admit to the crime as well" solicit - incite, move, or persuade to some act of lawlessness or insubordination; "He was accused of soliciting his colleagues to destroy the documents" encourage - spur on; "His financial success encouraged him to look for a wife" let - actively cause something to happen; "I let it be known that I was not interested" lead - cause to undertake a certain action; "Her greed led her to forge the checks" suborn - induce to commit perjury or give false testimony; "The President tried to suborn false witnesses" compel, obligate, oblige - force somebody to do something; "We compel all students to fill out this form" |
cause noun 1. origin, source, agency, spring, agent, maker, producer, root, beginning, creator, genesis, originator, prime mover, mainspring << OPPOSITE result verb 4. produce, begin, create, effect, lead to, occasion, result in, generate, provoke, compel, motivate, induce, bring about, give rise to, precipitate, incite, engender << OPPOSITE prevent
Translations cause [kɔːz] n → causato cause sb to do sth → far fare qc a qn; to cause sth to be done → far fare qc
causen cause [koːz]1 something or someone that produces an effect or result Having no money is the cause of all my misery. oorsaak سَبَب причина příčina årsag; grund die Ursache αιτία causa põhjus علت syy cause סִיבָּה, גוֹרֵם कारण uzrok ok penyebab orsök causa 原因 원인 priežastis cēlonis penyebab oorzaak årsak powód causa cauză причина príčina vzrok uzrok orsak, grund สาเหตุ neden, sebep 起因 причина وجہ ، سبب، باعث nguyên nhân 起因 2 a reason for an action; a motive You had no cause to treat your wife so badly. rede داعٍ، سَبَب повод důvod grund der Grund λόγος, κίνητρο razón, motivo alus دلیل syy, aihe raison סִיבָּה कारण uzrok, razlog ok alasan ástæða motivo, ragione 理由 이유, 동기 dingstis, pretekstas iemesls; pamats sebab reden grunn powód motivo motiv повод dôvod povod povod anledning, skäl เหตุผล neden, sebep 理由 підстава; мотив علت ، محرک lý do 理由 3 an aim or concern for which an individual or group works cancer research and other deserving causes; in the cause of peace. saak قَضِيَّه кауза problém; věc, záležitost sag die Angelegenheit σκοπός, υπόθεση causa asi, üritus انگیزه asia cause מַטָרָה उद्देश्य povod ügy tujuan málstaður causa 目標 주의, 대의, 목적 tikslas lieta; ideja matlamat zaak sak cel causa obiectiv, cauză (общее) дело vec cilj; v imenu (miru) cilj sak วัตถุประสงค์ ilke, amaç, dava 目標 справа مقصد ، نصبالعین sự nghiệp 目标 v to make (something) happen; to bring about; to be the means of What caused the accident?; He caused me to drop my suitcase. veroorsaak يُسَبِّبُ пораждам způsobit, zapříčinit være årsag verursachen, veranlassen προκαλώ, επιφέρω causar põhjustama سبب شدن؛ موجب شدن aiheuttaa causer לִגרוֹם कारण होना, उत्पन्न करना izazvati, prouzročiti okoz menyebabkan koma (e-m) til (að gera e-ð) causare ひき起こす 야기하다 būti priežastimi, priversti būt par iemeslu; izraisīt; piespiest mencari punca veroorzaken forårsake, få til å, bringe til, påføre powodować causar. a cauza, a face быть причиной; заставлять spôsobiť, zapríčiniť povzročiti; pripeljati do česa prouzrokovati orsaka, föranleda, vålla ก่อให้เกิด neden olmak, yol açmak 使發生 спричиняти, завдавати وجود یا عمل میں لانا gây ra 使发生
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