3 VERB If you react to a substance such as a drug, or to something you have touched, you are affected unpleasantly or made ill by it. □ [V + to ] Someone allergic to milk is likely to react to cheese. [Also V ]
4 VERB When one chemical substance reacts with another, or when two chemical substances react , they combine chemically to form another substance. □ [V + with ] Calcium reacts with water. □ [V ] Under normal circumstances, these two gases react readily to produce carbon dioxide and water. SYNONYMS react VERB 1
respond: The army responded with gunfire and tear gas.
answer: He answered her smile with one of his own.
re|ac|tion ◆◆◇ /riæ kʃ ə n/ (reactions )
1 N‑VAR Your reaction to something that has happened or something that you have experienced is what you feel, say, or do because of it. □ [+ to ] Reaction to the visit is mixed. □ He was surprised that his answer should have caused such a strong reaction.
2 N‑COUNT A reaction against something is a way of behaving or doing something that is deliberately different from what has been done before. □ [+ against ] All new fashion starts out as a reaction against existing convention.
3 N‑SING If there is a reaction against something, it becomes unpopular. □ [+ against ] Premature moves in this respect might well provoke a reaction against the reform.
4 N‑PLURAL [oft poss N ] Your reactions are your ability to move quickly in response to something, for example when you are in danger. □ The sport requires very fast reactions.
5 N‑UNCOUNT Reaction is the belief that the political or social system of your country should not change. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Thus, he aided reaction and thwarted progress.
6 N‑COUNT A chemical reaction is a process in which two substances combine together chemically to form another substance. □ Ozone is produced by the reaction between oxygen and ultra-violet light.
7 N‑COUNT If you have a reaction to a substance such as a drug, or to something you have touched, you are affected unpleasantly or made ill by it. □ [+ to ] Every year, 5000 people have life-threatening reactions to anaesthetics. SYNONYMS reaction NOUN 1
response: The meeting was called in response to a request from Venezuela.
answer: In answer to speculation that she wouldn't finish the race, she boldly declared her intention of winning it.
re|ac|tion|ary /riæ kʃənri, [AM ] -neri/ (reactionaries ) ADJ A reactionary person or group tries to prevent changes in the political or social system of their country. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …Charlotte Brontë's battle against the forces of reactionary Victorianism. ● N‑COUNT A reactionary is someone with reactionary views. □ Critics viewed him as a reactionary.
re|ac|ti|vate /riæ kt I ve I t/ (reactivates , reactivating , reactivated ) VERB If people reactivate a system or organization, they make it work again after a period in which it has not been working. □ [V n] …a series of economic reforms to reactivate the economy.
re|ac|tive /riæ kt I v/
1 ADJ Something that is reactive is able to react chemically with a lot of different substances. □ Ozone is a highly reactive form of oxygen gas.
2 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If someone is reactive , they behave in response to what happens to them, rather than deciding in advance how they want to behave. □ I want our organization to be less reactive and more pro-active.
re|ac|tor /riæ ktə r / (reactors ) N‑COUNT A reactor is the same as a nuclear reactor .
read ◆◆◆ (reads , reading ) The form read is pronounced /riː d/ when it is the present tense, and /re d/ when it is the past tense and past participle. 1 VERB When you read something such as a book or article, you look at and understand the words that are written there. □ [V n] Have you read this book? □ [V + about ] I read about it in the paper. □ [V + through ] He read through the pages slowly and carefully. □ [V that] It is nice to read that Dylan Thomas venerated the Welsh language. □ [V ] She spends her days reading and watching television. ● N‑SING Read is also a noun. □ I settled down to have a good read.
2 VERB When you read a piece of writing to someone, you say the words aloud. □ [V n] Jay reads poetry so beautifully. □ [V + to ] I like it when she reads to us. □ [V n n] I sing to the boys or read them a story before tucking them in. [Also V n + to , V ]
3 VERB People who can read have the ability to look at and understand written words. □ [V ] He couldn't read or write. □ [V n] He could read words at 18 months.
4 VERB If you can read music, you have the ability to look at and understand the symbols that are used in written music to represent musical sounds. □ [V n] Later on I learned how to read music.
5 VERB When a computer reads a file or a document, it takes information from a disk or tape. [COMPUTING ] □ [V n] An update has left the program unable to read the files.
6 VERB [no cont] You can use read when saying what is written on something or in something. For example, if a notice reads 'Entrance', the word 'Entrance' is written on it. □ [V with quote] The sign on the bus read 'Private: Not In Service'.
7 VERB If you refer to how a piece of writing reads , you are referring to its style. □ [V prep/adv] The book reads like a ballad.