English Dictionary

Definition of “affect”

Browse the English dictionary (A-Z)

1affect1

Definitions

verb

(tr)
  1. to act upon or influence, esp in an adverse way  ⇒ damp affected the sparking plugs 
  2. to move or disturb emotionally or mentally  ⇒ her death affected him greatly 
  3. (of pain, disease, etc) to attack

noun

  1. psychology the emotion associated with an idea or set of ideas See also affection

Word Origin

C17: from Latin affectus,  past participle of afficere  to act upon, from ad-  to + facere to do

Synonyms

View thesaurus entry
= influence, involve, concern, impact, transform, alter, modify, change, manipulate, act on, sway, prevail over bear upon, impinge upon
= emotionally move touch, upset, overcome, stir, disturb, perturb, impress on tug at your heartstrings

2affect2 (əˈfɛktPronunciation for affect2) 

Definitions

verb (mainly tr)

  1. to put on an appearance or show of; make a pretence of  ⇒ to affect ignorance 
  2. to imitate or assume, esp pretentiously  ⇒ to affect an accent 
  3. to have or use by preference  ⇒ she always affects funereal clothing 
  4. to adopt the character, manner, etc, of  ⇒ he was always affecting the politician 
  5. (of plants or animals) to live or grow in  ⇒ penguins affect an arctic climate 
  6. to incline naturally or habitually towards  ⇒ falling drops of liquid affect roundness 

Word Origin

C15: from Latin affectāre  to strive after, pretend to have; related to afficere to affectC15: from Latin to strive after, pretend to have; related to to 1

Translations

  • British English: affect Pronunciation for affect When something affects someone or something, it influences them or causes them to change....decisions that would affect me for the rest of my life.əˈfɛkt VERB ...decisions that would affect me for the rest of my life.
  • Spanish: afectar Pronunciation for afectar v
  • French: affecter Pronunciation for affecter v
  • German: betreffen Pronunciation for betreffen v
  • Chinese: 影响Pronunciation for 影响 v
  • Arabic: يُؤثِر Pronunciation for يُؤثِر v
  • Portuguese: afectarPronunciation for afectar v
  • Russian: воздействоватьPronunciation for воздействовать v
  • Croatian: djelovati naPronunciation for djelovati na v
  • Czech: působitPronunciation for působit v zapůsobit
  • Danish: påvirkePronunciation for påvirke v
  • Dutch: beïnvloedenPronunciation for beïnvloeden v
  • Finnish: vaikuttaaPronunciation for vaikuttaa v
  • Greek: επηρεάζωPronunciation for επηρεάζω v
  • Italian: influire suPronunciation for influire su v
  • Japanese: 影響を与えるPronunciation for 影響を与える v
  • Korean: 영향을 미치다Pronunciation for 영향을 미치다 v
  • Norwegian: påvirkePronunciation for påvirke v
  • Polish: wpłynąćPronunciation for wpłynąć v wpływać
  • Brazilian Portuguese: afetarPronunciation for afetar v
  • European Spanish: afectar Pronunciation for afectar v
  • Swedish: påverkaPronunciation for påverka v
  • Thai: กระทบPronunciation for กระทบ v
  • Turkish: etkilemekPronunciation for etkilemek v
  • Vietnamese: tác độngPronunciation for tác động v

Usage examples

  • Case Notes Name: Pieter de Groot Session Number: 1 Comments: The patient's lack of affect is notable.
    Val McDermid, THE LAST TEMPTATION (2002)
  • The gene was first modified by adding the amber codon in places known not to affect the protein.
    New Scientist (2003)
  • A spokesman suggested that, should approaches be made, Mr Ahern would be happy to do what he could to affect a reconciliation.
    Irish Times (2002)
  • This is a huge decision that is being taken - apparently behind closed doors - which will affect future generations.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • Such a fall from grace did little to affect the popularity of spiritualism.
    Peter Stanford, HEAVEN: A Traveller's Guide to the Undiscovered Country (2002)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'A'

Related Terms

1 results

Browse nearby words

Browse dictionary