reaction

reaction
noun
1 TO A SITUATION/EVENT (C, U) something that you feel or do that is a result of something that has happened to you or been said to you: What was Jeff's reaction when you told him about the job?
(+ to): Her parents' reaction to the news was surprisingly calm. | mixed reaction (=people react in different ways): The pay offer brought a mixed reaction from union members. | gut reaction (=what you immediately feel before you have time to think): My gut reaction to her story was disbelief!
2 ABILITY reactions (plural) your ability to move quickly when something dangerous happens suddenly: quick/slow reactions: In motor racing the drivers need to have very quick reactions.
3 TO FOOD/DRUGS (C) a bad effect, such as illness, caused by food that you have eaten or a drug that you have taken: an allergic reaction
(+ to): Some people experience a mild reaction to the drug.
4 SCIENCE (C, U)
a) a chemical change that happens when two or more chemical substances are mixed together; chemical reaction
b) a physical force that is the result of an equally strong physical force in the opposite direction
 —see also: nuclear reaction
5 CHANGE (singular) a change in people's attitudes, behaviour, fashions etc that happens because they disapprove of what was done in the past
(+ against): The attitudes of this generation are a reaction against the selfish values of the 1980s.
6 TIRED/SAD (singular) a sudden feeling of weakness, tiredness, or unhappiness that you sometimes get after a lot of activity: Bridget seems depressed; I think she's suffering a reaction after all the excitement.
7 AGAINST CHANGE (U) formal strong and unreasonable opposition to all social and political changes: The revolution was defeated by the forces of reaction.
—see also: chain reaction

Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • réaction — [ reaksjɔ̃ ] n. f. • 1690; de re et action I ♦ Sc. 1 ♦ Mécan. Force qu un corps agissant sur un autre détermine en retour chez celui ci. Principe de l égalité de l action et de la réaction (énoncé par Newton) :un corps qui exerce sur un autre une …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Reaction — Réaction Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Reaction — Re*ac tion (r[ e]*[a^]k sh[u^]n), n. [Cf. F. r[ e]action.] 1. Any action in resisting other action or force; counter tendency; movement in a contrary direction; reverse action. [1913 Webster] 2. (Chem.) The mutual or reciprocal action of chemical …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Réaction! — Réaction ! Réaction ! Saison 1 Épisode n°16 Titre original The Peanut Reaction Code de production 116 1e diffusion aux É. U. 12 mai 2008 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Réaction ! — Réaction ! Saison 1 Épisode n°16 Titre original The Peanut Reaction Code de production 116 1e diffusion aux É. U. 12 mai 2008 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • reaction — Since the later part of the 20c reaction has been used to mean little more than ‘first impression’ or ‘initial response’: • ‘I became more and more infatuated with that image as I grew older,’ Rowan said and looked at me for some kind of reaction …   Modern English usage

  • reaction — (n.) 1610s, from RE (Cf. re ) again, anew + ACTION (Cf. action) (q.v.). Modeled on Fr. réaction, older It. reattione, from M.L. reactionem (nom. reactio), from L.L. react , pp. stem of reagere react, from re …   Etymology dictionary

  • reaction — I (opposition) noun backfire, backlash, challenge, clash, conflict, contradiction, contrariety, countertendency, differences, disagreement, disapprobation, discountenance, expression of disapproval, objection, offset, polarity, protest, rebound,… …   Law dictionary

  • reaction — [n1] response acknowledgment, answer, attitude, backfire, backlash, back talk*, boomerang*, comeback, compensation, counteraction, counterbalance, counterpoise, double take*, echo, feedback, feeling, hit, kick, kickback, knee jerk*, lip*, opinion …   New thesaurus

  • Reaction — (v. lat.), 1) so v.w. Gegenbewegung, Gegendruck, Gegenwirkung, d.h. eine rückwirkende Thätigkeit, welche überall stattfindet, wo entgegengesetzte Kräfte einander entgegen wirken u. sich ins Gleichgewicht zu setzen suchen. 2) Die Erscheinung, daß… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Reaction — Reaction, Gegenwirkung, Gegenbewegung …   Damen Conversations Lexikon

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