ef ['ef] -n
- the letter f
eff -abbr
- efficiency
ef·face [i-'fās, e-] -vt, adj, n
- to eliminate or make indistinct by or as if by wearing away a surface
- coins with dates effaced by wear
- to cause to vanish
- daylight effaced the stars
- to make (oneself) modestly or shyly inconspicuous
ef·fect [i-'fekt, e-, ē-, ə-] -n
- purport, intent
- basic meaning : essence
- something that inevitably follows an antecedent (as a cause or agent)
- an outward sign : appearance
- accomplishment, fulfillment
- power to bring about a result : influence
- the content itself of television...is therefore less important than its effect -- Current Biog.
- movable property : goods
- a distinctive impression
- the color gives the effect of being warm
- the creation of a desired impression
- her tears were purely for effect
- something designed to produce a distinctive or desired impression usu. used in pl.
- special effects
- the quality or state of being operative : operation
- the law goes into effect next week
effect -vt
- to cause to come into being
- to bring about often by surmounting obstacles : accomplish
- effect a settlement of a dispute
- 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
- producing a decided, decisive, or desired effect
- impressive, striking
- a gold lame fabric studded with effective...precious stones -- Stanley Marcus
- ready for service or action
- actual
- the need to increase effective demand for goods
- being in effect : operative
- the tax becomes effective next year
- 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
- one that is effective
- a soldier equipped for duty
ef·fec·tive·ly [-lē] -adv
- in effect : virtually
- by withholding further funds they effectively killed the project
- in an effective manner
- dealt with the problem effectively
ef·fec·tor [i-'fek-tər, -,tȯr] -n
- a bodily organ (as a gland or muscle) that becomes active in response to stimulation
- 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
- producing or able to produce a desired effect
ef·fec·tu·al·ly [i-'fek-chə(-wə)-lē, -chü(-ə)-; -'fek-shwə-] -adv
- in an effectual manner
- with great effect : completely
ef·fec·tu·ate [i-'fek-chə-,wāt, -chü-,āt] -vt, n
- effect
ef·fem·i·na·cy [ə-'fe-mə-nə-sē] -n
- the quality of being effeminate
ef·fem·i·nate [-nət] -adj
- having feminine qualities untypical of a man : not manly in appearance or manner
- marked by an unbecoming delicacy or overrefinement
- an effeminate civilization
effeminate -n
- an effeminate person
ef·fen·di [e-'fen-dē, ə-] -n
- a man of property, authority, or education in an eastern Mediterranean country
ef·fer·ent ['e-fər-ənt, -,fer-, 'ē-] -adj, n, adv
- conducting outward from a part or organ
- conveying nervous impulses to an effector
ef·fer·vesce [,e-fər-'ves] -vi, n, adj, adv
- to bubble, hiss, and foam as gas escapes
- to show liveliness or exhilaration
ef·fete [e-'fēt, i-] -adj, adv, n
- no longer fertile
- having lost character, vitality, or strength
- the effete monarchies...of feudal Europe -- G. M. Trevelyan
- marked by weakness or decadence
- soft or delicate from or as if from a pampered existence
- peddled...trendy tweeds to effete Easterners -- William Helmer
- characteristic of an effete person
- a wool scarf...a bit effete on an outdoorsman -- Nelson Bryant
- effeminate
- a good-humored, effete boy brought up by maiden aunts -- Herman Wouk
ef·fi·ca·cious [,e-fə-'kā-shəs] -adj, adv, n
- having the power to produce a desired effect
ef·fi·cac·i·ty [,e-fə-'ka-sə-tē] -n
- efficacy
ef·fi·ca·cy ['e-fi-kə-sē] -n
- the power to produce an effect
ef·fi·cien·cy [i-'fi-shən-sē] -n
- the quality or degree of being efficient
- efficient operation
- effective operation as measured by a comparison of production with cost (as in energy, time, and money)
- the ratio of the useful energy delivered by a dynamic system to the energy supplied to it
- efficiency apartment
efficiency apartment -n
- a small usu. furnished apartment with minimal kitchen and bath facilities
efficiency expert -n
- 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
- being or involving the immediate agent in producing an effect
- the efficient action of heat in changing water to steam
- productive of desired effects
- productive without waste
ef·fi·gy ['e-fə-jē] -n
- an image or representation esp. of a person
- a crude figure representing a hated person
ef·flo·resce [,e-flə-'res] -vi
- to burst forth : bloom
- to change to a powder from loss of water of crystallization
- to form or become covered with a powdery crust
- bricks may effloresce owing to the deposition of soluble salts
ef·flo·res·cence [-'re-sᵊn(t)s] -n, adj
- the action or process of developing and unfolding as if coming into flower : blossoming
- periods of...intellectual and artistic efflorescence -- Julian Huxley
- an instance of such development
- fullness of manifestation : culmination
- the period or state of flowering
- the process or product of efflorescing chemically
ef·flu·ence ['e-,flü-ən(t)s; e-'flü-, ə-'] -n
- something that flows out
- an action or process of flowing out
ef·flu·ent [-ənt] -adj
- flowing out : emanating, outgoing
effluent -n
- : something that flows out: as
- an outflowing branch of a main stream or lake
- 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
- an invisible emanation
- an offensive exhalation or smell
- a by-product esp. in the form of waste
ef·flux ['e-,fləks] -n
- something given off in or as if in a stream
- effluence
- a passing away : expiration
ef·fort ['e-fərt, -,fȯrt] -n
- conscious exertion of power : hard work
- a job requiring time and effort
- a serious attempt : try
- making an effort to reduce costs
- something produced by exertion or trying
- the novel was her most ambitious effort
- effective force as distinguished from the possible resistance called into action by such a force
- the total work done to achieve a particular end
ef·fort·ful [-fərt-fəl] -adj, adv, n
- showing or requiring effort
ef·fort·less [-fərt-ləs] -adj, adv, n
- showing or requiring little or no effort
ef·fron·tery [i-'frən-tə-rē, e-] -n
- shameless boldness : insolence
ef·ful·gence [i-'fu̇l-jən(t)s, e-, -'fəl-] -n, adj
- radiant splendor : brilliance
ef·fuse [i-'fyüz, e-] -vb
- to pour out (a liquid)
- to flow out : emanate
- to make a great or excessive display of enthusiasm
- they effused about his accomplishments
- diffuse
- spread out flat without definite form
ef·fu·sion [i-'fyü-zhən, e-] -n
- an act of effusing
- unrestrained expression of words or feelings
- greeted her with great effusion -- Olive H. Prouty
- the escape of a fluid from anatomical vessels by rupture or exudation
- the flow of a gas through an aperture whose diameter is small as compared with the distance between the molecules of the gas
- the fluid that escapes
ef·fu·sive [i-'fyü-siv, e-, -ziv] -adj, adv, n
- marked by the expression of great or excessive emotion or enthusiasm
- pouring freely
- characterized or formed by a nonexplosive outpouring of lava
Ef·ik ['e-fik] -n
- a member of a people of southeastern Nigeria
- the language of the Efik people
eft ['eft] -n
- newt
- the terrestrial phase of a predominantly aquatic newt
EFT -abbr
- electronic funds transfer (system)
eft·soons [eft-'sünz] -adv
- soon after