Noun:
1: act, enactment a legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body
2: act, human activity, human action something that people do or cause to happen
3: act a subdivision of a play or opera or ballet
4: bit, turn, act, routine, number a short theatrical performance that is part of a longer program; "he did his act three times every evening"; "she had a catchy little routine"; "it was one of the best numbers he ever did"
5: act a manifestation of insincerity; "he put on quite an act for her benefit"
Verb:
1: act, move perform an action, or work out or perform (an action); "think before you act"; "We must move quickly"; "The governor should act on the new energy bill"; "The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel"
2: behave, do, act behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself; "You should act like an adult"; "Don't behave like a fool"; "What makes her do this way?"; "The dog acts ferocious, but he is really afraid of people"
3: act, represent, play play a role or part; "Gielgud played Hamlet"; "She wants to act Lady Macbeth, but she is too young for the role"; "She played the servant to her husband's master"
4: act discharge one's duties; "She acts as the chair"; "In what capacity are you acting?"
5: play, act, act as pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind; "He acted the idiot"; "She plays deaf when the news are bad"
6: act be suitable for theatrical performance; "This scene acts well"
7: act, work have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected; "The voting process doesn't work as well as people thought"; "How does your idea work in practice?"; "This method doesn't work"; "The breaks of my new car act quickly"; "The medicine works only if you take it with a lot of water"
8: act be engaged in an activity, often for no particular purpose other than pleasure
9: pretend, act, dissemble behave unnaturally or affectedly; "She's just acting"
10: playact, act, play, roleplay perform on a stage or theater; "She acts in this play"; "He acted in `Julius Caesar'"; "I played in `A Christmas Carol'"