Search Result for "effective": 
Wordnet 3.0

ADJECTIVE (6)

1. producing or capable of producing an intended result or having a striking effect;
- Example: "an air-cooled motor was more effective than a witch's broomstick for rapid long-distance transportation"-LewisMumford
- Example: "effective teaching methods"
- Example: "effective steps toward peace"
- Example: "made an effective entrance"
- Example: "his complaint proved to be effectual in bringing action"
- Example: "an efficacious law"
[syn: effective, effectual, efficacious]

2. able to accomplish a purpose; functioning effectively;
- Example: "people who will do nothing unless they get something out of it for themselves are often highly effective persons..."-G.B.Shaw
- Example: "effective personnel"
- Example: "an efficient secretary"
- Example: "the efficient cause of the revolution"
[syn: effective, efficient]

3. works well as a means or remedy;
- Example: "an effective reprimand"
- Example: "a lotion that is effective in cases of prickly heat"

4. exerting force or influence;
- Example: "the law is effective immediately"
- Example: "a warranty good for two years"
- Example: "the law is already in effect (or in force)"
[syn: effective, good, in effect(p), in force(p)]

5. existing in fact; not theoretical; real;
- Example: "a decline in the effective demand"
- Example: "confused increased equipment and expenditure with the quantity of effective work done"

6. ready for service;
- Example: "the fort was held by about 100 effective soldiers"



The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Effective \Ef*fect"ive\, n.
   1. That which produces a given effect; a cause. --Jer.
      Taylor.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. One who is capable of active service.
      [1913 Webster]

            He assembled his army -- 20,000 effectives -- at
            Corinth.                              --W. P.
                                                  Johnston.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. [F. effectif real, effective, real amount.] (Com.) Specie
      or coin, as distinguished from paper currency; -- a term
      used in many parts of Europe. --Simmonds.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. The serviceable soldiers in a country; an army or any
      military body, collectively; as, France's effective.
      [Webster 1913 Suppl.]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Effective \Ef*fect"ive\, a. [L. effectivus: cf. F. effectif.]
   Having the power to produce an effect or effects; producing a
   decided or decisive effect; efficient; serviceable;
   operative; as, an effective force, remedy, speech; the
   effective men in a regiment.
   [1913 Webster]

         They are not effective of anything, nor leave no work
         behind them.                             --Bacon.
   [1913 Webster]

         Whosoever is an effective, real cause of doing his
         heighbor wrong, is criminal.             --Jer. Taylor.

   Syn: Efficient; forcible; active; powerful; energetic;
        competent. See Effectual.
        [1913 Webster]


WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

effective
    adj 1: producing or capable of producing an intended result or
           having a striking effect; "an air-cooled motor was more
           effective than a witch's broomstick for rapid long-
           distance transportation"-LewisMumford; "effective
           teaching methods"; "effective steps toward peace"; "made
           an effective entrance"; "his complaint proved to be
           effectual in bringing action"; "an efficacious law" [syn:
           effective, effectual, efficacious] [ant:
           ineffective, ineffectual, uneffective]
    2: able to accomplish a purpose; functioning effectively;
       "people who will do nothing unless they get something out of
       it for themselves are often highly effective
       persons..."-G.B.Shaw; "effective personnel"; "an efficient
       secretary"; "the efficient cause of the revolution" [syn:
       effective, efficient]
    3: works well as a means or remedy; "an effective reprimand"; "a
       lotion that is effective in cases of prickly heat"
    4: exerting force or influence; "the law is effective
       immediately"; "a warranty good for two years"; "the law is
       already in effect (or in force)" [syn: effective, good,
       in effect(p), in force(p)]
    5: existing in fact; not theoretical; real; "a decline in the
       effective demand"; "confused increased equipment and
       expenditure with the quantity of effective work done"
    6: ready for service; "the fort was held by about 100 effective
       soldiers"


Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

107 Moby Thesaurus words for "effective":
   able, acid, active, actual, adequate, armipotent, authoritative,
   banausic, basic, biting, capable, charismatic, charming, cogent,
   compelling, competent, consequential, conspicuous, convincing,
   corrosive, cutting, direct, driving, dynamic, effectual,
   efficacious, efficient, enchanting, energetic, equal to, essential,
   estimable, feasible, forceful, forcible, functional, functioning,
   go, gutsy, high-potency, high-powered, high-pressure, high-tension,
   imperative, important, impressive, in force, in operation,
   in power, incisive, influential, irresistible, magnetic, mighty,
   mighty in battle, momentous, mordant, moving, nervous, noticeable,
   operable, operational, operative, outstanding, penetrating,
   personable, persuasive, piercing, poignant, potent, powerful,
   practicable, practical, pragmatic, prepotent, prestigious,
   productive, proficient, puissant, punchy, real, realizable,
   remarkable, reputable, ruling, sensational, serviceable, sinewed,
   sinewy, slashing, sound, striking, strong, suasive, substantial,
   telling, trenchant, true, up to, useful, valid, vigorous, virtuous,
   vital, weighty, winning, workable