5 VERB If you effect something that you are trying to achieve, you succeed in causing it to happen. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Prospects for effecting real political change have taken a step backwards.
6 → see also greenhouse effect , placebo effect , ripple effect , side-effect , sound effect , special effect
7 PHRASE If you say that someone is doing something for effect , you mean that they are doing it in order to impress people and to draw attention to themselves. □ The Cockney accent was put on for effect.
8 PHRASE You add in effect to a statement or opinion that is not precisely accurate, but which you feel is a reasonable description or summary of a particular situation. [VAGUENESS ] □ That deal would create, in effect, the world's biggest airline.
9 PHRASE If you put , bring , or carry a plan or idea into effect , you cause it to happen in practice. □ These and other such measures ought to have been put into effect in 1985.
10 PHRASE If a law or policy takes effect or comes into effect at a particular time, it officially begins to apply or be valid from that time. If it remains in effect , it still applies or is still valid. □ …the ban on new logging permits which will take effect from July. □ The decision will remain in effect until further government instructions.
11 PHRASE You can say that something takes effect when it starts to produce the results that are intended. □ The second injection should only have been given once the first drug had taken effect.
12 PHRASE You use effect in expressions such as to good effect and to no effect in order to indicate how successful or impressive an action is. □ Mr Morris feels the museum is using advertising to good effect.
13 PHRASE You use to this effect , to that effect , or to the effect that to indicate that you have given or are giving a summary of something that was said or written, and not the actual words used. □ A circular to this effect will be issued in the next few weeks.
14 PHRASE If you say that something will happen with immediate effect or with effect from a particular time, you mean that it will begin to apply or be valid immediately or from the stated time. [BRIT , mainly FORMAL ] □ The price of the Saturday edition is going up with effect from 3 November.
15 cause and effect → see cause SYNONYMS effect NOUN 1
result: A real pizza oven gives better results than an ordinary home oven.
consequence: An economic crisis may have tremendous consequences for our global security.
outcome: It's too early to know the outcome of her illness.
end result: The end result of this will be unity.
aftermath: In the aftermath of the coup, the troops opened fire on the demonstrators.
influence: Many other medications have an influence on cholesterol levels.
impact: The major impact of this epidemic worldwide is yet to come.
ef|fec|tive ◆◆◇ / I fe kt I v/
1 ADJ Something that is effective works well and produces the results that were intended. □ [+ in ] Homoeopathic treatment can be effective in treating virtually any illness. □ [+ against ] Simple antibiotics are effective against this organism. □ …an effective public transport system. ● ef|fec|tive|ly ADV [usu ADV after v, oft ADV -ed] □ …the team roles which you believe to be necessary for the team to function effectively. □ Services need to be more effectively organised than they are at present. ● ef|fec|tive|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the effectiveness of computers as an educational tool.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Effective means having a particular role or result in practice, though not officially or in theory. □ They have had effective control of the area since the security forces left.
3 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] When something such as a law or an agreement becomes effective , it begins officially to apply or be valid. □ The new rules will become effective in the next few days. SYNONYMS effective ADJ 1
efficient: This was done in an efficient and competent manner.
successfuclass="underline" How successful will this new treatment be?
usefuclass="underline" The police gained a great deal of useful information about the organization.
productive: Training makes workers highly productive.
helpfuclass="underline" A predominantly liquid diet for a day or two may be helpful.
ef|fec|tive|ly / I fe kt I vli/ ADV [oft ADV adj/-ed] You use effectively with a statement or opinion to indicate that it is not accurate in every detail, but that you feel it is a reasonable description or summary of a particular situation. □ The region was effectively independent.
ef|fec|tual / I fe ktʃuəl/ ADJ If an action or plan is effectual , it succeeds in producing the results that were intended. [FORMAL ] □ This is the only effectual way to secure our present and future happiness.
ef|femi|nate / I fe m I nət/ ADJ If you describe a man or boy as effeminate , you think he behaves, looks, or sounds like a woman or girl. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …a skinny, effeminate guy in lipstick and earrings.
ef|fer|ves|cent /e fə r ve s ə nt/
1 ADJ An effervescent liquid is one that contains or releases bubbles of gas. □ …an effervescent mineral water.
2 ADJ If you describe someone as effervescent , you mean that they are lively, entertaining, enthusiastic, and exciting. [APPROVAL ] □ …an effervescent blonde actress. ● ef|fer|ves|cence N‑UNCOUNT □ He wrote about Gillespie's effervescence, magnetism and commitment.