ef ['ef] -n

  1. the letter f

eff -abbr

  1. efficiency

ef·face [i-'fās, e-] -vt, adj, n

  1. to eliminate or make indistinct by or as if by wearing away a surface
    • coins with dates effaced by wear
  2. to cause to vanish
    • daylight effaced the stars
  3. to make (oneself) modestly or shyly inconspicuous

ef·fect [i-'fekt, e-, ē-, ə-] -n

  1. purport, intent
  2. basic meaning : essence
  3. something that inevitably follows an antecedent (as a cause or agent)
  4. an outward sign : appearance
  5. accomplishment, fulfillment
  6. power to bring about a result : influence
    • the content itself of television...is therefore less important than its ef*fect -- Current Biog.
  7. movable property : goods
    • personal ef*fect s
  8. a distinctive impression
    • the color gives the ef*fect of being warm
  9. the creation of a desired impression
    • her tears were purely for ef*fect
  10. something designed to produce a distinctive or desired impression usu. used in pl.
  11. special effects
  12. the quality or state of being operative : operation
    • the law goes into ef*fect next week

effect -vt

  1. to cause to come into being
  2. to bring about often by surmounting obstacles : accomplish
    • effect a settlement of a dispute
  3. to put into operation
    • the duty of the legislature to effect the will of the citizens

ef·fec·tive [i-'fek-tiv, e-, ē-, ə-] -adj, n

  1. producing a decided, decisive, or desired effect
    • an ef*fec*tive policy
  2. impressive, striking
    • a gold lame fabric studded with ef*fec*tive...precious stones -- Stanley Marcus
  3. ready for service or action
    • ef*fec*tive manpower
  4. actual
    • the need to increase ef*fec*tive demand for goods
  5. being in effect : operative
    • the tax becomes ef*fec*tive next year
  6. equal to the rate of simple interest that yields the same amount when the interest is paid once at the end of the interest period as a quoted rate of interest does when calculated at compound interest over the same period

effective -n

  1. one that is effective
  2. a soldier equipped for duty

ef·fec·tive·ly [-lē] -adv

  1. in effect : virtually
    • by withholding further funds they ef*fec*tive*ly killed the project
  2. in an effective manner
    • dealt with the problem ef*fec*tive*ly

ef·fec·tor [i-'fek-tər, -,tȯr] -n

  1. a bodily organ (as a gland or muscle) that becomes active in response to stimulation
  2. a molecule (as an inducer or a corepressor) that activates, controls, or inactivates a process or action (as protein synthesis)

ef·fec·tu·al [i-'fek-chə(-wə)l, -chü(-ə)l; -'feksh-wəl] -adj, n

  1. producing or able to produce a desired effect

ef·fec·tu·al·ly [i-'fek-chə(-wə)-lē, -chü(-ə)-; -'fek-shwə-] -adv

  1. in an effectual manner
  2. with great effect : completely

ef·fec·tu·ate [i-'fek-chə-,wāt, -chü-,āt] -vt, n

  1. effect

ef·fem·i·na·cy [ə-'fe-mə-nə-sē] -n

  1. the quality of being effeminate

ef·fem·i·nate [-nət] -adj

  1. having feminine qualities untypical of a man : not manly in appearance or manner
  2. marked by an unbecoming delicacy or overrefinement
    • ef*fem*i*nate art
    • an ef*fem*i*nate civilization

effeminate -n

  1. an effeminate person

ef·fen·di [e-'fen-dē, ə-] -n

  1. a man of property, authority, or education in an eastern Mediterranean country

ef·fer·ent ['e-fər-ənt, -,fer-, 'ē-] -adj, n, adv

  1. conducting outward from a part or organ
  2. conveying nervous impulses to an effector
    • ef*fer*ent neurons

ef·fer·vesce [,e-fər-'ves] -vi, n, adj, adv

  1. to bubble, hiss, and foam as gas escapes
  2. to show liveliness or exhilaration

ef·fete [e-'fēt, i-] -adj, adv, n

  1. no longer fertile
  2. having lost character, vitality, or strength
    • the ef*fete monarchies...of feudal Europe -- G. M. Trevelyan
  3. marked by weakness or decadence
    • the ef*fete East
  4. soft or delicate from or as if from a pampered existence
    • peddled...trendy tweeds to ef*fete Easterners -- William Helmer
    • ef*fete tenderfeet
  5. characteristic of an effete person
    • a wool scarf...a bit ef*fete on an outdoorsman -- Nelson Bryant
  6. effeminate
    • a good-humored, ef*fete boy brought up by maiden aunts -- Herman Wouk

ef·fi·ca·cious [,e-fə-'kā-shəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. having the power to produce a desired effect
    • an ef*fi*ca*cious remedy

ef·fi·cac·i·ty [,e-fə-'ka-sə-tē] -n

  1. efficacy

ef·fi·ca·cy ['e-fi-kə-sē] -n

  1. the power to produce an effect

ef·fi·cien·cy [i-'fi-shən-sē] -n

  1. the quality or degree of being efficient
  2. efficient operation
  3. effective operation as measured by a comparison of production with cost (as in energy, time, and money)
  4. the ratio of the useful energy delivered by a dynamic system to the energy supplied to it
  5. efficiency apartment

efficiency apartment -n

  1. a small usu. furnished apartment with minimal kitchen and bath facilities

efficiency expert -n

  1. one who analyzes methods, procedures, and jobs in order to secure maximum efficiency called also efficiency engineer

ef·fi·cient [i-'fi-shənt] -adj, adv

  1. being or involving the immediate agent in producing an effect
    • the ef*fi*cient action of heat in changing water to steam
  2. productive of desired effects
  3. productive without waste
    • an ef*fi*cient worker

ef·fi·gy ['e-fə-jē] -n

  1. an image or representation esp. of a person
  2. a crude figure representing a hated person

ef·flo·resce [,e-flə-'res] -vi

  1. to burst forth : bloom
  2. to change to a powder from loss of water of crystallization
  3. to form or become covered with a powdery crust
    • bricks may ef*flo*resce owing to the deposition of soluble salts

ef·flo·res·cence [-'re-sᵊn(t)s] -n, adj

  1. the action or process of developing and unfolding as if coming into flower : blossoming
    • periods of...intellectual and artistic ef*flo*res*cence -- Julian Huxley
  2. an instance of such development
  3. fullness of manifestation : culmination
  4. the period or state of flowering
  5. the process or product of efflorescing chemically

ef·flu·ence ['e-,flü-ən(t)s; e-'flü-, ə-'] -n

  1. something that flows out
  2. an action or process of flowing out

ef·flu·ent [-ənt] -adj

  1. flowing out : emanating, outgoing
    • an ef*flu*ent river

effluent -n

  1. : something that flows out: as
  2. an outflowing branch of a main stream or lake
  3. waste material (as smoke, liquid industrial refuse, or sewage) discharged into the environment esp. when serving as a pollutant

ef·flu·vi·um [e-'flü-vē-əm] -n

  1. an invisible emanation
  2. an offensive exhalation or smell
  3. a by-product esp. in the form of waste

ef·flux ['e-,fləks] -n

  1. something given off in or as if in a stream
  2. effluence
  3. a passing away : expiration

ef·fort ['e-fərt, -,fȯrt] -n

  1. conscious exertion of power : hard work
    • a job requiring time and ef*fort
  2. a serious attempt : try
    • making an ef*fort to reduce costs
  3. something produced by exertion or trying
    • the novel was her most ambitious ef*fort
  4. effective force as distinguished from the possible resistance called into action by such a force
  5. the total work done to achieve a particular end
    • the war ef*fort

ef·fort·ful [-fərt-fəl] -adj, adv, n

  1. showing or requiring effort

ef·fort·less [-fərt-ləs] -adj, adv, n

  1. showing or requiring little or no effort
    • ef*fort*less power

ef·fron·tery [i-'frən-tə-rē, e-] -n

  1. shameless boldness : insolence

ef·ful·gence [i-'fu̇l-jən(t)s, e-, -'fəl-] -n, adj

  1. radiant splendor : brilliance

ef·fuse [i-'fyüz, e-] -vb

  1. to pour out (a liquid)
  2. to flow out : emanate
  3. to make a great or excessive display of enthusiasm
    • they effused about his accomplishments
  4. diffuse
  5. spread out flat without definite form
    • ef*fuse lichens

ef·fu·sion [i-'fyü-zhən, e-] -n

  1. an act of effusing
  2. unrestrained expression of words or feelings
    • greeted her with great ef*fu*sion -- Olive H. Prouty
  3. the escape of a fluid from anatomical vessels by rupture or exudation
  4. the flow of a gas through an aperture whose diameter is small as compared with the distance between the molecules of the gas
  5. the fluid that escapes

ef·fu·sive [i-'fyü-siv, e-, -ziv] -adj, adv, n

  1. marked by the expression of great or excessive emotion or enthusiasm
    • ef*fu*sive praise
  2. pouring freely
  3. characterized or formed by a nonexplosive outpouring of lava
    • ef*fu*sive rocks

Ef·ik ['e-fik] -n

  1. a member of a people of southeastern Nigeria
  2. the language of the Efik people

eft ['eft] -n

  1. newt
  2. the terrestrial phase of a predominantly aquatic newt

EFT -abbr

  1. electronic funds transfer (system)

eft·soons [eft-'sünz] -adv

  1. soon after