English noun: cause | |||
1. | cause (event) events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something | ||
Samples | They are trying to determine the cause of the crash. | ||
Broader (hypernym) | inception, origin, origination | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | aetiology, antecedent, etiology, factor, mutagenesis, producer | ||
2. | cause (communication) a justification for something existing or happening | ||
Samples | He had no cause to complain. They had good reason to rejoice. | ||
Synonyms | grounds, reason | ||
Broader (hypernym) | justification | ||
3. | cause (act) a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end | ||
Samples | He supported populist campaigns. They worked in the cause of world peace. The team was ready for a drive toward the pennant. The movement to end slavery. Contributed to the war effort. | ||
Synonyms | campaign, crusade, drive, effort, movement | ||
Broader (hypernym) | venture | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | ad blitz, ad campaign, advertising campaign, anti-war movement, campaigning, candidacy, candidature, charm campaign, consumerism, electioneering, feminism, feminist movement, fund-raising campaign, fund-raising drive, fund-raising effort, gay lib, gay liberation movement, lost cause, political campaign, reform, war, women's lib, women's liberation movement, youth crusade, youth movement | ||
4. | cause any entity that produces an effect or is responsible for events or results | ||
Synonyms | causal agency, causal agent | ||
Broader (hypernym) | physical entity | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | agent, agent, catalyst, cause of death, danger, destiny, deus ex machina, engine, fate, first cause, force, individual, killer, life principle, manipulator, mortal, nature, occult, operator, person, power, prime mover, primum mobile, somebody, someone, soul, supernatural, theurgy, vital principle | ||
5. | cause (act) a comprehensive term for any proceeding in a court of law whereby an individual seeks a legal remedy | ||
Samples | The family brought suit against the landlord. | ||
Synonyms | case, causa, lawsuit, suit | ||
Broader (hypernym) | legal proceeding, proceeding, proceedings | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | bastardy proceeding, civil suit, class action, class-action suit, countersuit, criminal suit, moot, paternity suit | ||
Domain category | jurisprudence, law | ||
English verb: cause | |||
1. | cause (creation) give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally | ||
Samples | Cause a commotion. Make a stir. Cause an accident. | ||
Synonyms | do, make | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | create, make | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | actuate, breed, call forth, determine, effect, effectuate, engender, evoke, facilitate, force, impel, incite, influence, initiate, kick up, make, mold, motivate, move, occasion, pioneer, prompt, propel, provoke, regulate, set up, shape, spawn | ||
2. | cause (communication) cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner | ||
Samples | The ads induced me to buy a VCR. My children finally got me to buy a computer. My wife made me buy a new sofa. | ||
Examples | They cause him to write the letter | ||
Synonyms | get, have, induce, make, stimulate | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE. Somebody ----s somebody INFINITIVE | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | bring, compel, decide, encourage, inspire, instigate, lead, let, obligate, oblige, persuade, prompt, solicit, suborn | ||