2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Active  \Ac"tive\,  a.  [F.  actif,  L.  activus  fr  agere  to  act.] 
  1.  Having  the  power  or  quality  of  acting;  causing  change; 
  communicating  action  or  motion;  acting;  --  opposed  to 
  {passive},  that  receives;  as  certain  active  principles; 
  the  powers  of  the  mind. 
 
  2.  Quick  in  physical  movement;  of  an  agile  and  vigorous  body; 
  nimble;  as  an  active  child  or  animal. 
 
  Active  and  nervous  was  his  gait.  --Wordsworth. 
 
  3.  In  action  actually  proceeding;  working;  in  force;  -- 
  opposed  to  {quiescent},  {dormant},  or  {extinct};  as 
  active  laws;  active  hostilities;  an  active  volcano. 
 
  4.  Given  to  action  constantly  engaged  in  action  energetic; 
  diligent;  busy;  --  opposed  to  {dull},  {sluggish}, 
  {indolent},  or  {inert};  as  an  active  man  of  business; 
  active  mind;  active  zeal. 
 
  5.  Requiring  or  implying  action  or  exertion;  --  opposed  to 
  {sedentary}  or  to  {tranquil};  as  active  employment  or 
  service;  active  scenes. 
 
  6.  Given  to  action  rather  than  contemplation;  practical; 
  operative;  --  opposed  to  {speculative}  or  {theoretical}; 
  as  an  active  rather  than  a  speculative  statesman. 
 
  7.  Brisk;  lively;  as  an  active  demand  for  corn. 
 
  8.  Implying  or  producing  rapid  action  as  an  active  disease; 
  an  active  remedy. 
 
  9.  (Gram.) 
  a  Applied  to  a  form  of  the  verb  --  opposed  to 
  {passive}.  See  {Active  voice},  under  {Voice}. 
  b  Applied  to  verbs  which  assert  that  the  subject  acts 
  upon  or  affects  something  else;  transitive. 
  c  Applied  to  all  verbs  that  express  action  as  distinct 
  from  mere  existence  or  state. 
 
  {Active  capital},  {Active  wealth},  money,  or  property  that 
  may  readily  be  converted  into  money. 
 
  Syn:  Agile;  alert;  brisk;  vigorous;  nimble;  lively;  quick; 
  sprightly;  prompt;  energetic. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  active 
  adj  1:  (pathology)  tending  to  become  more  severe  or  wider  in  scope; 
  "active  tuberculosis"  [ant:  {inactive}] 
  2:  (military)  engaged  in  or  ready  for  military  or  naval 
  operations;  "on  active  duty";  "the  platoon  is 
  combat-ready";  "review  the  fighting  forces"  [syn:  {combat-ready}, 
  {fighting(a)}] 
  3:  disposed  to  take  action  or  effectuate  change;  "a  director 
  who  takes  an  active  interest  in  corporate  operations";  "an 
  active  antagonism";  "he  was  active  in  drawing  attention  to 
  their  grievances"  [ant:  {passive}] 
  4:  taking  part  in  an  activity;  "an  active  member  of  the  club"; 
  "he  was  politically  active";  "the  participating 
  organizations"  [syn:  {participating}] 
  5:  characterized  by  energetic  activity;  "an  active  toddler"; 
  "active  as  a  gazelle";  "an  active  man  is  a  man  of  action" 
  [ant:  {inactive}] 
  6:  exerting  influence  or  producing  an  effect;  "an  active 
  ingredient"  [ant:  {inactive}] 
  7:  full  of  activity  or  engaged  in  continuous  activity;  "an 
  active  seaport";  "an  active  bond  market";  "an  active 
  account"  [ant:  {inactive}] 
  8:  in  operation;  "keep  hope  alive";  "the  tradition  was  still 
  alive";  "an  active  tradition"  [syn:  {alive(p)}] 
  9:  in  a  state  of  habitual  or  vigorous  activity;  "an  active  man 
  is  a  man  of  action" 
  10:  (astronomy;  of  the  sun)  characterized  by  a  high  level 
  activity  in  sunspots  and  flares  and  radio  emissions  [ant: 
  {quiet}] 
  11:  (grammar)  active  voice  [ant:  {passive}] 
  12:  (grammar)  expressing  action  rather  than  a  state  of  being 
  used  of  verbs  (e.g.  `to  run')  and  participial  adjectives 
  (e.g.  `running'  in  `running  water')  [syn:  {dynamic}] 
  [ant:  {stative}] 
  13:  (of  e.g.  volcanos)  being  in  a  state  of  action  or  potential 
  action  "active  volcanos"  [ant:  {dormant},  {extinct}] 
  14:  producing  activity  or  change  [ant:  {counteractive}] 
  15:  engaged  in  full-time  work  "active  duty"  (military);  "though 
  past  retirement  age  he  is  still  active  in  his  profession" 
  [ant:  {inactive}] 
  16:  being  in  physical  motion;  "active  fish  in  the  aquarium";  "a 
  nurse  is  on  the  move  all  day"  [syn:  {on  the  move(p)}] 
  17:  characterized  by  energetic  bodily  activity;  "tennis  is  an 
  active  sport";  "a  very  physical  dance  performance"  [syn: 
  {physical}] 
  n  1:  chemical  agent  capable  of  activity  [syn:  {active  agent}] 
  2:  the  voice  used  to  indicate  that  the  subject  of  the  verb  is 
  performing  the  action  or  causing  the  happening  denoted  by 
  the  verb  [syn:  {active  voice}]  [ant:  {passive  voice}] 

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