reaction

B1 Topic:Chemistry

Also spelled re-action

US /ɹiˈækʃən/ See IPA manual

Freq #2912

Meanings

1

noun
The way you behave or feel because of something that has happened.

The announcement of the verdict brought a violent reaction.
2

noun
A bad physical response of the body to a substance such as medicine or food.

She had a bad reaction to the medicine.
3

noun
(chemistry) A process in which substances change into other substances.

There was a chemical reaction between the lime and the water.
4

noun
Behaviour or attitudes that develop in opposition to something earlier.

This style of painting was a reaction against cubism.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the way you behave or feel... response

3 noun · (chemistry) a process in... chemical reaction

More reaxrxn

Word family

Forms reactions

Derived forms alloreactionautoreactionbackreactionbioreactioncounterreactioncrossreactiongravireactionhalf-reactionhyperreactionimmunoreactioninterreactionmacroreaction

Related forms reactreactantreactionalreactionary reactor

Appears in

Phrases (4)

See all

allergic reaction
an unwanted response of the immune system to a substance

Adjective + noun
neutralization reaction
a chemical reaction in which an acid and a base interact to form a salt

Noun + noun
thermonuclear reaction
a nuclear fusion reaction occurring at extremely high temperature

Adjective + noun
insulin reaction
An episode of low blood sugar caused by an excessive effect of insulin.

Noun + noun

Proverbs (1)

See all

Action and reaction are equal

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English reaccion, from Old French reaction, from Latin reāctiō, from the verb reagō, from re- (“again”) + agō (“to act”); more at re-, action; equivalent to react + -ion.

*h₂eǵ- Proto-Indo-European reaccion Middle English reaction Old French

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Chemistry Science & Research

External links

# reaction

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ɹiˈækʃən/
**Frequency rank:** 2912

## Meanings
1. The way you behave or feel because of something that has happened.
2. A bad physical response of the body to a substance such as medicine or food.
3. (chemistry) A process in which substances change into other substances.
4. Behaviour or attitudes that develop in opposition to something earlier.

## Examples
- The announcement of the verdict brought a violent reaction.
- She had a bad reaction to the medicine.
- There was a chemical reaction between the lime and the water.
- This style of painting was a reaction against cubism.

## Synonyms
- reax
- rxn

## Derived Forms
- alloreaction
- autoreaction
- backreaction
- bioreaction
- counterreaction
- crossreaction
- gravireaction
- half-reaction
- hyperreaction
- immunoreaction
- interreaction
- macroreaction

## Related Forms
- react
- reactant
- reactional
- reactionary
- reactor

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *h₂eǵ-
- Root: reaccion
- Root: reaction

## Etymology
Inherited from Middle English reaccion, from Old French reaction, from Latin reāctiō, from the verb reagō, from re- (“again”) + agō (“to act”); more at re-, action; equivalent to react + -ion.

## AI Etymology
Reaction is inherited from Middle English reaccion, from Old French reaction, from Latin reāctiō, from the verb reagō, from re- (“again”) + agō (“to act”); more at re-, action; equivalent to react + -ion. Modern senses include the way you behave or feel because of something that has happened. and a bad physical response of the body to a substance such as medicine or food.. The wider word family includes derivatives such as alloreaction, autoreaction, backreaction, bioreaction, counterreaction, and crossreaction and related forms such as react, reactant, reactional, and reactionary.

## Topics
- Chemistry
- Science & Research

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