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 effect -- Current Biog.
  7. movable property : goods
    • personal effect s
  8. a distinctive impression
    • the color gives the effect of being warm
  9. the creation of a desired impression
    • her tears were purely for effect
  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 effect 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 effective policy
  2. impressive, striking
    • a gold lame fabric studded with effective...precious stones -- Stanley Marcus
  3. ready for service or action
    • effective manpower
  4. actual
    • the need to increase effective demand for goods
  5. being in effect : operative
    • the tax becomes effective 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 effectively killed the project
  2. in an effective manner
    • dealt with the problem effectively

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
    • effeminate art
    • an effeminate 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
    • efferent 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 effete monarchies...of feudal Europe -- G. M. Trevelyan
  3. marked by weakness or decadence
    • the effete East
  4. soft or delicate from or as if from a pampered existence
    • peddled...trendy tweeds to effete Easterners -- William Helmer
    • effete tenderfeet
  5. characteristic of an effete person
    • a wool scarf...a bit effete on an outdoorsman -- Nelson Bryant
  6. effeminate
    • a good-humored, effete 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 efficacious 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 efficient action of heat in changing water to steam
  2. productive of desired effects
  3. productive without waste
    • an efficient 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 effloresce 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 efflorescence -- 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 effluent 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 effort
  2. a serious attempt : try
    • making an effort to reduce costs
  3. something produced by exertion or trying
    • the novel was her most ambitious effort
  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 effort

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
    • effortless 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
    • effuse 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 effusion -- 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
    • effusive praise
  2. pouring freely
  3. characterized or formed by a nonexplosive outpouring of lava
    • effusive 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