Réponse.
ETYM Latin effectus, from efficere, effectum, to effect; ex + facere to make: cf. French effet, formerly also spelled effect. Related to Fact.
1. A result or consequence.
2. A symptom caused by an illness or a drug.
3. An impression (especially one that is artificial or contrived).
4. The central meaning or theme of a speech or literary work; SYN. essence, burden, core, gist.
5. (Of a law) Having legal validity; SYN. force.
6. Result; ability to produce a result; impression produced on a spectator, auditor etc.
ETYM Cf. French réaction.
In chemistry, the coming together of two or more atoms, ions, or molecules with the result that a chemical change takes place. The nature of the reaction is portrayed by a chemical equation.
1. (Mechanics) The equal and opposite force that is produced when any force is applied to a body.
2. A bodily process occurring due to the effect of some foregoing stimulus or agent; SYN. response.
3. A response that reveals a person's feelings or attitude.
4. An idea evoked by some experience.
5. Doing something in opposition to another way of doing it that one doesn't like.
6. Extreme conservatism in political or social matters.
ETYM Latin reflexus a bending back. Related to Reflect.
An automatic reaction; SYN. physiological reaction.
In animals, a very rapid involuntary response to a particular stimulus. It is controlled by the nervous system. A reflex involves only a few nerve cells, unlike the slower but more complex responses produced by the many processing nerve cells of the brain.
A simple reflex is entirely automatic and involves no learning. Examples of such reflexes include the sudden withdrawal of a hand in response to a painful stimulus, or the jerking of a leg when the kneecap is tapped. Sensory cells (receptors) in the knee send signals to the spinal cord along a sensory nerve cell. Within the spine a reflex arc switches the signals straight back to the muscles of the leg (effectors) via an intermediate nerve cell and then a motor nerve cell; contraction of the leg occurs, and the leg kicks upward. Only three nerve cells are involved, and the brain is only aware of the response after it has taken place. Such reflex arcs are particularly common in lower animals, and have a high survival value, enabling organisms to take rapid action to avoid potential danger. In higher animals (those with a well-developed central nervous system) the simple reflex can be modified by the involvement of the brain—for instance, humans can override the automatic reflex to withdraw a hand from a source.
Of pain.
A conditioned reflex involves the modification of a reflex action in response to experience (learning). A stimulus that produces a simple reflex response becomes linked with another, possibly unrelated, stimulus. For example, a dog may salivate (a reflex action) when it sees its owner remove a can-opener from a drawer because it has learned to associate that stimulus with the stimulus of being fed.
Psychology, reflex transferred to new or different stimulus.
The speech act of continuing a conversational exchange; SYN. response.
ETYM Old Fren. response, respons, French réponse, from Latin responsum, from respondere. Related to Respond.
1. A phrase recited or sung by the congregation following a versicle by the priest or minister.
2. A result.
Any change in an organism occurring as a result of a stimulus. There are many different types of response, some involving the entire organism, others only groups of cells or tissues. Examples include the muscular contractions in an animal, the movement of leaves toward the light, and the onset of hibernation by small mammals at the start of winter.
The situation that exists when something ends; SYN. outcome.
1. Any standardized procedure for measuring sensitivity or memory or intelligence or aptitude etc; SYN. mental test, mental testing, psychometric test.
2. The act of testing something; SYN. trial, run.
3. The act of undergoing testing; SYN. trial.
4. A hard outer covering as of some amoebas and sea urchins.
5. Zoology, shell of invertebrate.