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Trademark. a standardized college admissions test developed by ACT, Inc., measuring English, mathematics, reading, and science skills: originally an abbreviation of American College Testing/American College Test.
Compare .
Association of Classroom Teachers.
Australian Capital Territory.
noun
something done or performed; a deed
the performance of some physical or mental process; action
(capital when part of a name) the formally codified result of deliberation by a legislative body; a law, edict, decree, statute, etc
(often pl) a formal written record of transactions, proceedings, etc, as of a society, committee, or legislative body
a major division of a dramatic work

a short performance of skill, a comic sketch, dance, etc, esp one that is part of a programme of light entertainment
those giving such a performance

an assumed attitude or pose, esp one intended to impress
(philosophy) an occurrence effected by the volition of a human agent, usually opposed at least as regards its explanation to one which is causally determined Compare event (sense 4)
verb
(intransitive) to do something; carry out an action
(intransitive) to function in a specified way; operate; react: his mind acted quickly
to perform (a part or role) in a play, etc
(transitive) to present (a play, etc) on stage
(intransitive; usually foll by for or as) to be a substitute (for); function in place (of)
(intransitive) foll by as. to serve the function or purpose (of): the glass acted as protection
(intransitive) to conduct oneself or behave (as if one were): she usually acts like a lady
(intransitive) to behave in an unnatural or affected way
(copula) to pose as; play the part of: to act the fool
(copula) to behave in a manner appropriate to (esp in the phrase act one’s age)
(copula) (not standard) to seem or pretend to be: to act tired
clean up one’s act, to start to behave in a responsible manner
(informal) get in on the act, to become involved in a profitable undertaking or advantageous situation in order to share in the benefits
(informal) get one’s act together, to become organized or prepared
abbreviation
Australian Capital Territory
(formerly in Britain) advance corporation tax
noun acronym
(in New Zealand) Association of Consumers and Taxpayers: a small political party of the right
n.

late 14c., “a thing done,” from Old French acte “(official) document,” and directly from Latin actus “a doing, a driving, impulse; a part in a play, act,” and actum “a thing done,” originally a legal term, both from agere “to do, set in motion, drive, urge, chase, stir up,” from PIE root *ag- “to drive, draw out or forth, move” (cf. Greek agein “to lead, guide, drive, carry off,” agon “assembly, contest in the games,” agogos “leader;” Sanskrit ajati “drives,” ajirah “moving, active;” Old Norse aka “to drive;” Middle Irish ag “battle”).

Theatrical (“part of a play,” 1510s) and legislative (early 15c.) senses of the word also were in Latin. Meaning “display of exaggerated behavior” is from 1928. In the act “in the process” is from 1590s, perhaps originally from the 16c. sense of the act as “sexual intercourse.” Act of God “uncontrollable natural force” recorded by 1726.

An act of God is an accident which arises from a cause which operates without interference or aid from man (1 Pars. on Cont. 635); the loss arising wherefrom cannot be guarded against by the ordinary exertions of human skill and prudence so as to prevent its effect. [William Wait, “General Principles of the Law,” Albany, 1879]

v.

mid-15c., “to act upon or adjudicate” a legal case; 1590s in the theatrical sense, from Latin actus, past participle of agere (see act (n.)). To act up “be unruly” is from 1903. To act out “behave anti-socially” (1974) is from psychiatric sense of “expressing one’s unconscious impulses or desires.” Related: Acted; acting.

noun

A display of pretended feeling; an affected pretense: His elaborate grief was just an act
A dramatic mimicking; shtick,takeoff: You oughta see my Brando act

Related Terms

a class act, clean up one’s act, do the dutch, go into one’s act, sister act
a trademark for a standardized college entrance examination; originally American College Test
American Conservatory Theater
Waco Regional Airport

act of faith
act of God
act on
act one’s age
act out
act up
act upon

also see:

catch in the act
clean up (one’s act)
do a disappearing act
get in the act
get one’s act together
hard (tough) act to follow
high-wire act
in the act of
put on an act