an·swer
(ăńsər)
[Middle English answere, from Old English andswaru.]
noun
- A spoken or written reply, as to a question.
- A correct reply.
- A solution, as to a problem.
- A correct solution.
- An act in retaliation or response: Our only possible answer was to sue.
- Something markedly similar to another of the same class: cable TV's answer to the commercial networks' sportscasts.
- Law A defendant's defense against charges.
verb: -swered, -swer·ing, -swers.
intransitive verb
- To speak, write, or act as a return, as to a question.
- To be liable or accountable: You must answer for your actions.
- To serve the purpose; suffice: “Often I do use three words where one would answer” (Mark Twain)
- To correspond; match: I found a dog answering to that description.
transitive verb
- To speak, write, or act as a return to; respond to.
- To respond correctly to.
- To fulfill the demands or needs of; serve: “My fortune has answered my desires” (Isaak Walton)
- To conform or correspond to: The suspect answers the description given by the police.
synonyms:
answer, respond, reply, retort1 These verbs relate to action taken in return to a stimulus. Answer, respond, and reply, the most general, all mean to speak, write, or act in response: Please answer my question. Did you expect the President to respond personally to your letter? The opposing team scored three runs; the home team replied with two of their own. Respond also denotes a reaction, either voluntary ( A bystander responded to the victim's need for help ) or involuntary ( She responded in spite of herself to the antics of the puppy ). To retort is to answer verbally in a quick, caustic, or witty manner: She won the debate by retorting sharply to her opponent's questions.- See also: satisfy
