effort


effort
/ef"euhrt/, n.
1. exertion of physical or mental power: It will take great effort to achieve victory.
2. an earnest or strenuous attempt: an effort to keep to the schedule.
3. something done by exertion or hard work: I thought it would be easy, but it was an effort.
4. an achievement, as in literature or art: The painting is one of his finest efforts.
5. the amount of exertion expended for a specified purpose: the war effort.
6. Chiefly Brit.
a. an organized community drive or achievement.
b. a fund-raising drive.
7. Mech. the force or energy that is applied to a machine for the accomplishment of useful work.
[1480-90; < MF; OF esfort, esforz, deriv. of esforcier to force (es- EX-1 + forcier to FORCE)]
Syn. 1. struggle, striving. EFFORT, APPLICATION, ENDEAVOR, EXERTION imply actions directed or force expended toward a definite end. EFFORT is an expenditure of energy to accomplish some objective: He made an effort to control himself. APPLICATION is continuous effort plus careful attention: constant application to duties. ENDEAVOR means a continued and sustained series of efforts to achieve some, often worthy and difficult, end: a constant endeavor to be useful. EXERTION is the vigorous and often strenuous expenditure of energy, frequently without an end: out of breath from exertion.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Synonyms:
, , , , , , , , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • effort — [ efɔr ] n. m. • esforz 1080; de efforcer 1 ♦ Activité d un être conscient qui mobilise toutes ses forces pour résister ou vaincre une résistance (extérieure ou intérieure). Effort physique, musculaire. Sentiment de l effort (fondement de la… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • effort — EFFORT. sub. mas. Action faite en s efforçant, en y employant beaucoup de force. Il se dit Des actions et du corps et de l esprit. Grand effort. Faire le dernier effort. Vain effort. Effort inutile. Employer tous ses efforts. Il en est venu à… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

  • effort — Effort. s. m. verb. Action faite en s efforçant, en y employant beaucoup de force. Il se dit des actions & du corps & de l esprit. Grand effort. dernier effort. vain effort. inutile effort. faire effort. faire un effort. il ne faut pour cela qu… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • effort — UK US /ˈefət/ noun ► [C or U] a serious attempt to do something: an effort to do sth »This is part of an ongoing effort to develop the Asian debt market. »The guidelines require that companies make an effort to engender a culture of ethical… …   Financial and business terms

  • effort — effort, exertion, pains, trouble mean the active use or expenditure of physical or mental power in producing or attempting to produce a desired result. Effort may suggest either a single action or continued activity, but it usually implies… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Effort — Ef fort, n. [F. effort, OF. esfort, for esfors, esforz, fr. esforcier. See {Efforce}.] 1. An exertion of strength or power, whether physical or mental, in performing an act or aiming at an object; more or less strenuous endeavor; struggle… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • effort — late 15c., from M.Fr. effort, noun of action from O.Fr. esforz force, impetuosity, strength, power, back formation from esforcier force out, exert oneself, from V.L. *exfortiare to show strength (Cf. It. sforza), from L. ex out (see EX (Cf. ex )) …   Etymology dictionary

  • effort — [ef′ərt] n. [Fr < OFr esforz < esforcier, to make an effort < VL * exfortiare < ex , intens. + * fortiare: see FORCE] 1. the using of energy to get something done; exertion of strength or mental power 2. a try, esp. a hard try;… …   English World dictionary

  • effort — I noun applied energy, arduousness, assiduity, assiduousness, attempt, conatus, contentio, endeavor, essay, exertion, expenditure of energy, hard work, industry, laboriousness, opera, pains, strain, strenuousness, struggle, toil, travail, trial,… …   Law dictionary

  • Effort — Ef fort, v. t. To stimulate. [Obs.] He efforted his spirits. Fuller. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Effort — (fr., spr. Effohr), Anstrengung, Nachdruck, Kraft; daher Efforciren, sich anstrengen …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon