Definition of "answer"

answer¹

/ˈɑːn.sə/

noun
plural answers
1. A response or reply; something said or done in reaction to a statement or question.
2. A solution to a problem.
3. The proper or effective response.
4. (law) A document filed in response to a complaint, responding to each point raised in the complaint and raising counterpoints.

answer²

/ˈɑːn.sə/

verb
third-person singular simple present answers, present participle answering, simple past and past participle answered
1. (transitive, intransitive) To make a reply or response to.
  Quotations
  She answers him as if she knew his mind:The spelling has been modernized.
  1593, 1896
  […] there was no voice, nor any that answered.
  1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], 1 Kings 18:26
  “Well,” I answered, at first with uncertainty, then with inspiration, “he would do splendidly to lead your cotillon, if you think of having one.” ¶ “So you do not dance, Mr. Crocker?” ¶ I was somewhat set back by her perspicuity.
  1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter IV, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd.
2. (transitive) To speak in defence against; to reply to in defence.
3. (transitive, intransitive) To respond to a call by someone at a door or telephone, or other similar piece of equipment.
4. (transitive, intransitive) To suit a need or purpose satisfactorily.
  Quotations
  Mr. Knightley had done all in his power for Mr. Woodhouse’s entertainment. Books of engravings, drawers of medals, cameos, corals, shells, and every other family collection within his cabinets, had been prepared for his old friend, to while away the morning; and the kindness had perfectly answered.
  1815 December (indicated as 1816), [Jane Austen], chapter 6, in Emma: […], volume III, London: […] [Charles Roworth and James Moyes] for John Murray
  Inexperienced girl as I was, I fired at the idea of becoming his dupe, and fancying, perhaps, that there was more in merely answering his note than it would have amounted to, I said — "That kind of thing may answer very well with button-makers, but ladies don't like it. […]
  1864, Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, Uncle Silas
  Of course for publication in a newspaper, my palaeotype would not answer, but my glossotype would enable the author to give his Pennsylvania German in an English form and much more intelligibly.
  1871, Alexander J. Ellis, On Early English Pronunciation‎, London: Trübner & Co., Part III, Chapter 7, section 1, p. 656, footnote 1
  Theobald spoke as if watches had half-a-dozen purposes besides time-keeping, but he could hardly open his mouth without using one or other of his tags, and "answering every purpose" was one of them.
  1903, Samuel Butler, chapter 41, in The Way of All Flesh
5. To be accountable or responsible; to make amends.
  Quotations
  And pleaſe your Maiestie, let his Neck anſwere for it, if there is any Marſhall Law in the World.
  1599, William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act IV, scene viii], page 90, column 2
6. (law) To file a document in response to a complaint.
7. To correspond to; to be in harmony with; to be in agreement with.
  Quotations
  Egad, I wish she had answer’d her picture as well.
  1775, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The Duenna, Dublin: G. Burnet et al., 1794, Act II, Scene 2, p. 25
  The use of dunder in the making of rum, answers the purpose of yeast in the fermentation of flour.
  1793, Bryan Edwards, The History, Civil and Commercial, of the British Colonies in the West Indies‎, Dublin: Luke White, Volume II, Book V, Chapter 2, p. 231
8. To be opposite, or to act in opposition.
  Quotations
  The windows answering each other, we could just discern the glowing horizon through them […]
  1786, William Gilpin, Observations, relative chiefly to picturesque beauty, made in the year 1772: on several parts of England; particularly the mountains, and lakes of Cumberland, and Westmoreland‎, London: R. Blamire, Volume II, Section 19, p. 85
9. To be or act in conformity, or by way of accommodation, correspondence, relation, or proportion; to conform; to correspond; to suit; usually with to.
  Quotations
  […] that the time may haue all ſhadow, and ſilence in it: and the place anſwere to conuenience
  c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act III, scene i], page 72, column 2
  If this but answer to my just belief, / I’ll well remember you.
  c. 1607–1608, William Shakeſpeare, The Late, And much admired Play, Called Pericles, Prince of Tyre. […], London: Imprinted at London for Henry Goſſon, […], published 1609, [Act V, scene i]
  As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.
  1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], Proverbs 27:19
  […] I might carry about me several Weapons, which must needs be dangerous things, if they answered the Bulk of so prodigious a Person.
  1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Emperor of Lilliput, Attended by Several of the Nobility, Come to See the Author in His Confinement. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume I, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], part I (A Voyage to Lilliput), page 36
10. To respond to satisfactorily; to meet successfully by way of explanation, argument, or justification; to refute.
  Quotations
  […] no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.
  1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], Matthew 22:46
  These shifts refuted, answer thy appellant / Though by his blindness maim’d for high attempts, / Who now defies thee thrice to single fight,
  1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […]”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J. M[acock] for John Starkey […]
  The reasoning was not and could not be answered.
  1851, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter 14, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume III, London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, page 354
11. To be or act in compliance with, in fulfillment or satisfaction of, as an order, obligation, or demand.
  Quotations
  […] this proud king […] studies day and night / To answer all the debts he owes unto you
  c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene iii]
  The faster a ship sails, the better she will answer her helm; if she sail very slow, she will scarce steer at all. If she heel much, she won't answer the helm so well.
  1764, John Nourse, Navigation Or, the Art of Sailing Upon the Sea, page 65
12. (obsolete) To render account to or for.
  Quotations
  […] I will, by to-morrow dinner-time, / Send him to answer thee, or any man, / For any thing he shall be charged withal:
  c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act II, scene iv]
13. (obsolete) To atone for; to be punished for.
  Quotations
  […] The noble Brutus / Hath told you Caesar was ambitious: / If it were so, it was a grievous fault, / And grievously hath Caesar answer’d it.
  1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act III, scene ii]
14. (obsolete) To be or act as an equivalent to, or as adequate or sufficient for; to serve for; to repay.
  Quotations
  A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
  1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], Ecclesiastes 10:19

Definition of "answer"

answer1

noun

answer2

verb

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answer¹

answer²