Meaning of 'answer' (Webster Dictionary)
- To speak in defense against; to reply to in defense; as, to
answer a charge; to answer an accusation.
- To speak or write in return to, as in return to a call or
question, or to a speech, declaration, argument, or the like; to reply
to (a question, remark, etc.); to respond to.
- To respond to satisfactorily; to meet successfully by way
of explanation, argument, or justification, and the like; to refute.
- To be or act in return or response to.
- To be or act in compliance with, in fulfillment or
satisfaction of, as an order, obligation, demand; as, he answered my
claim upon him; the servant answered the bell.
- To render account to or for.
- To atone; to be punished for.
- To be opposite to; to face.
- To be or act an equivalent to, or as adequate or sufficient
for; to serve for; to repay.
- To be or act in accommodation, conformity, relation, or
proportion to; to correspond to; to suit.
- A reply to a change; a defense.
- Something said or written in reply to a question, a call,
an argument, an address, or the like; a reply.
- Something done in return for, or in consequence of,
something else; a responsive action.
- A solution, the result of a mathematical operation; as, the
answer to a problem.
- A counter-statement of facts in a course of pleadings; a
confutation of what the other party has alleged; a responsive
declaration by a witness in reply to a question. In Equity, it is the
usual form of defense to the complainant's charges in his bill.
- To speak or write by way of return (originally, to a
charge), or in reply; to make response.
- To make a satisfactory response or return.
- To render account, or to be responsible; to be
accountable; to make amends; as, the man must answer to his employer
for the money intrusted to his care.
- To be or act in return.
- To be or act by way of compliance, fulfillment,
reciprocation, or satisfaction; to serve the purpose; as, gypsum
answers as a manure on some soils.
- To be opposite, or to act in opposition.
- To be or act as an equivalent, or as adequate or
sufficient; as, a very few will answer.
- To be or act in conformity, or by way of accommodation,
correspondence, relation, or proportion; to conform; to correspond; to
suit; -- usually with to.
Meaning of 'answer' (Princeton's WordNet)
Meaning (1):
- a statement that solves a problem or explains how to solve the problem
Example in sentence:- he computed the result to four decimal places;
- the answers were in the back of the book;
- they were trying to find a peaceful solution
Meaning (2):
- a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
Example in sentence:- he wrote replies to several of his critics;
- I waited several days for his answer
Meaning (3):
- a nonverbal reaction
Example in sentence:- his answer to any problem was to get drunk;
- their answer was to sue me
Meaning (4):
- be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity
Example in sentence:- A few words would answer;
- A `B' grade doesn't suffice to get me into medical school;
- Nothing else will serve;
- This car suits my purpose well;
- Will $100 do?
Meaning (5):
- give the correct answer or solution to
Example in sentence:- answer a question;
- answer the riddle
Meaning (6):
- respond to a signal
Example in sentence:- answer the door;
- answer the telephone
Meaning (7):
- react verbally
Example in sentence:- answer the question;
- She didn't want to answer;
- We answered that we would accept the invitation
Meaning (8):
- be liable or accountable
Example in sentence:- She must answer for her actions
Meaning (9):
- give a defence or refutation of (a charge) or in (an argument)
Example in sentence:- The defendant answered to all the charges of the prosecution
Meaning (10):
- match or correspond
Example in sentence:- The drawing of the suspect answers to the description the victim gave
Meaning (11):
- understand the meaning of
Example in sentence:- The question concerning the meaning of life cannot be answered
Meaning (12):
- react to a stimulus or command
Example in sentence:- The steering of my new car answers to the slightest touch
Meaning (13):
- be satisfactory for; meet the requirements of or serve the purpose of
Example in sentence:- This may answer her needs
Definition
[ n.]