Specialist dictionary

Cause, effect and change

Language for causal relationships, mechanisms, consequences, trends and change over time.

Core vocabulary

120 featured terms

The database can contain more terms than shown here; this page prioritises the strongest mappings.

Accelerateverb

cause to move faster; "He accelerated the car"

Accountnoun

a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.; "the explanation was ve…

Acquireverb

gain through experience; "I acquired a strong aversion to television"; "Children must develop a sense of right and wrong"; "Dave developed leade…

Act uponverb

have and exert influence or effect; "The artist's work influenced the young painter"; "She worked on her friends to support the political candid…

Alleviateverb

make easier; "you could facilitate the process by sharing your knowledge"

Antecedentnoun

anything that precedes something similar in time; "phrenology was an antecedent of modern neuroscience"

Anticipateverb

make a prediction about; tell in advance; "Call the outcome of an election"

Anticipationnoun

the act of predicting (as by reasoning about the future)

Associationnoun

a formal organization of people or groups of people; "he joined the Modern Language Association"

Bring aboutverb

cause to happen, occur or exist; "This procedure produces a curious effect"; "The new law gave rise to many complaints"; "These chemicals produc…

Callverb

make a prediction about; tell in advance; "Call the outcome of an election"

Causaladjective

involving or constituting a cause; causing; "a causal relationship between scarcity and higher prices"

Causal factornoun

a determining or causal element or factor; "education is an important determinant of one's outlook on life"

Causalitynoun

the relation between causes and effects

Causationnoun

the act of causing something to happen

Causingnoun

the act of causing something to happen

Chemical mechanismnoun

the atomic process that occurs during a chemical reaction; "he determined unique mechanisms for the photochemical reactions"

Coefficient of correlationnoun

a statistic representing how closely two variables co-vary; it can vary from -1 (perfect negative correlation) through 0 (no correlation) to +1…

Confineverb

to close within bounds, or otherwise limit or deprive of free movement; "This holds the local until the express passengers change trains"; "Abou…

Consequencenoun

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon; "the magnetic effect was greater when the rod was lengthwise"; "his decisio…

Constrainverb

to close within bounds, or otherwise limit or deprive of free movement; "This holds the local until the express passengers change trains"; "Abou…

Correlationnoun

a statistic representing how closely two variables co-vary; it can vary from -1 (perfect negative correlation) through 0 (no correlation) to +1…

Correlation coefficientnoun

a statistic representing how closely two variables co-vary; it can vary from -1 (perfect negative correlation) through 0 (no correlation) to +1…

Covariationnoun

(statistics) correlated variation

Decelerateverb

lose velocity; move more slowly; "The car decelerated"

Determinantnoun

a determining or causal element or factor; "education is an important determinant of one's outlook on life"

Determinativenoun

a determining or causal element or factor; "education is an important determinant of one's outlook on life"

Determinernoun

a determining or causal element or factor; "education is an important determinant of one's outlook on life"

Determining factornoun

a determining or causal element or factor; "education is an important determinant of one's outlook on life"

Developverb

gain through experience; "I acquired a strong aversion to television"; "Children must develop a sense of right and wrong"; "Dave developed leade…

Easeverb

make easier; "you could facilitate the process by sharing your knowledge"

Easingnoun

a change for the better

Effectnoun

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon; "the magnetic effect was greater when the rod was lengthwise"; "his decisio…

Emergeverb

become known or apparent; "Some nice results emerged from the study"

Eventnoun

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon; "the magnetic effect was greater when the rod was lengthwise"; "his decisio…

Evolveverb

gain through experience; "I acquired a strong aversion to television"; "Children must develop a sense of right and wrong"; "Dave developed leade…

Excuseverb

serve as a reason or cause or justification of; "Your need to sleep late does not excuse your late arrival at work"; "Her recent divorce may exp…

Explainverb

serve as a reason or cause or justification of; "Your need to sleep late does not excuse your late arrival at work"; "Her recent divorce may exp…

Explanationnoun

a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.; "the explanation was ve…

Facilitateverb

make easier; "you could facilitate the process by sharing your knowledge"

Footpathnoun

a trodden path

Forebodeverb

make a prediction about; tell in advance; "Call the outcome of an election"

Forerunnernoun

anything that precedes something similar in time; "phrenology was an antecedent of modern neuroscience"

Foretellverb

make a prediction about; tell in advance; "Call the outcome of an election"

Generateverb

produce (energy); "We can't generate enough power for the entire city"; "The hydroelectric plant needs to generate more electricity"

Give riseverb

cause to happen, occur or exist; "This procedure produces a curious effect"; "The new law gave rise to many complaints"; "These chemicals produc…

Hastenverb

cause to occur rapidly; "the infection precipitated a high fever and allergic reactions"

Holdverb

to close within bounds, or otherwise limit or deprive of free movement; "This holds the local until the express passengers change trains"; "Abou…

Impactnoun

a forceful consequence; a strong effect; "the book had an important impact on my thinking"; "the book packs a wallop"

Induceverb

cause to occur rapidly; "the infection precipitated a high fever and allergic reactions"

Influenceverb

have and exert influence or effect; "The artist's work influenced the young painter"; "She worked on her friends to support the political candid…

Inhibitverb

make (someone) self-conscious and as a result unable to act naturally; "his father's cold and distant demeanor inhibited him emotionally"

Intermediationnoun

the act of intervening for the purpose of bringing about a settlement

Issuenoun

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon; "the magnetic effect was greater when the rod was lengthwise"; "his decisio…

Mechanismnoun

the atomic process that occurs during a chemical reaction; "he determined unique mechanisms for the photochemical reactions"

Mediationnoun

the act of intervening for the purpose of bringing about a settlement

Moderationnoun

a change for the better

Moderatornoun

someone who mediates disputes and attempts to avoid violence

Outcomenoun

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon; "the magnetic effect was greater when the rod was lengthwise"; "his decisio…

Pathwaynoun

a trodden path

Predictverb

make a prediction about; tell in advance; "Call the outcome of an election"

Predictionnoun

the act of predicting (as by reasoning about the future)

Previsionnoun

the act of predicting (as by reasoning about the future)

Produceverb

cause to happen, occur or exist; "This procedure produces a curious effect"; "The new law gave rise to many complaints"; "These chemicals produc…

Prognosticateverb

make a prediction about; tell in advance; "Call the outcome of an election"

Promiseverb

make a prediction about; tell in advance; "Call the outcome of an election"

Reliefnoun

a change for the better

Restrainverb

to close within bounds, or otherwise limit or deprive of free movement; "This holds the local until the express passengers change trains"; "Abou…

Resultnoun

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon; "the magnetic effect was greater when the rod was lengthwise"; "his decisio…

Retardverb

lose velocity; move more slowly; "The car decelerated"

Rushverb

cause to occur rapidly; "the infection precipitated a high fever and allergic reactions"

Slowverb

lose velocity; move more slowly; "The car decelerated"

Slow downverb

lose velocity; move more slowly; "The car decelerated"

Slow upverb

lose velocity; move more slowly; "The car decelerated"

Speedverb

cause to move faster; "He accelerated the car"

Speed upverb

cause to move faster; "He accelerated the car"

Stimulateverb

cause to occur rapidly; "the infection precipitated a high fever and allergic reactions"

Triggerverb

release or pull the trigger on; "Trigger a gun"

Upshotnoun

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon; "the magnetic effect was greater when the rod was lengthwise"; "his decisio…

Wallopnoun

a forceful consequence; a strong effect; "the book had an important impact on my thinking"; "the book packs a wallop"

Workverb

have and exert influence or effect; "The artist's work influenced the young painter"; "She worked on her friends to support the political candid…

Campaignnoun

a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end; "he supported populist campaigns"; "they worked in the cause of wo…

Causenoun

a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end; "he supported populist campaigns"; "they worked in the cause of wo…

Changenoun

money received in return for its equivalent in a larger denomination or a different currency; "he got change for a twenty and used it to pay the…

Chip inverb

contribute to some cause; "I gave at the office"

Cistronnoun

(genetics) a segment of DNA that is involved in producing a polypeptide chain; it can include regions preceding and following the coding DNA as…

Contributeverb

contribute to some cause; "I gave at the office"

Correlateverb

bring into a mutual, complementary, or reciprocal relation; "I cannot correlate these two pieces of information"

Crusadenoun

a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end; "he supported populist campaigns"; "they worked in the cause of wo…

Decreasenoun

a change downward; "there was a decrease in his temperature as the fever subsided"; "there was a sharp drop-off in sales"

Drivenoun

a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end; "he supported populist campaigns"; "they worked in the cause of wo…

Drivernoun

a golf club (a wood) with a near vertical face that is used for hitting long shots from the tee

Drop-offnoun

a change downward; "there was a decrease in his temperature as the fever subsided"; "there was a sharp drop-off in sales"

Effortnoun

a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end; "he supported populist campaigns"; "they worked in the cause of wo…

Factornoun

(genetics) a segment of DNA that is involved in producing a polypeptide chain; it can include regions preceding and following the coding DNA as…

genenoun

(genetics) a segment of DNA that is involved in producing a polypeptide chain; it can include regions preceding and following the coding DNA as…

Giveverb

contribute to some cause; "I gave at the office"

Human relationshipnoun

a relation between people; (‘relationship’ is often used where ‘relation’ would serve, as in ‘the relationship between inflation and unemploymen…

Increasenoun

a change resulting in an increase; "the increase is scheduled for next month"

Kick inverb

contribute to some cause; "I gave at the office"

Leadnoun

the angle between the direction a gun is aimed and the position of a moving target (correcting for the flight time of the missile)

Lesseningnoun

a change downward; "there was a decrease in his temperature as the fever subsided"; "there was a sharp drop-off in sales"

Movementnoun

a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end; "he supported populist campaigns"; "they worked in the cause of wo…

Number one woodnoun

a golf club (a wood) with a near vertical face that is used for hitting long shots from the tee

Relationshipnoun

a relation between people; (‘relationship’ is often used where ‘relation’ would serve, as in ‘the relationship between inflation and unemploymen…

Shiftverb

move and exchange for another; "shift the date for our class reunion"

Stylenoun

the popular taste at a given time; "leather is the latest vogue"; "he followed current trends"; "the 1920s had a style of their own"

Trendnoun

the popular taste at a given time; "leather is the latest vogue"; "he followed current trends"; "the 1920s had a style of their own"

Variationnoun

the act of changing or altering something slightly but noticeably from the norm or standard; "who is responsible for these variations in taxatio…

Voguenoun

the popular taste at a given time; "leather is the latest vogue"; "he followed current trends"; "the 1920s had a style of their own"

Accountingnoun

a convincing explanation that reveals basic causes; "he was unable to give a clear accounting for his actions"

Adumbrationnoun

the act of providing vague advance indications; representing beforehand

Aftermathnoun

the consequences of an event (especially a catastrophic event); "the aftermath of war"; "in the wake of the accident no one knew how many had be…

Alibiverb

exonerate by means of an alibi

Augurverb

predict from an omen

Backwashnoun

the consequences of an event (especially a catastrophic event); "the aftermath of war"; "in the wake of the accident no one knew how many had be…

Betverb

maintain with or as if with a bet; "I bet she will be there!"

Bindverb

secure with or as if with ropes; "tie down the prisoners"; "tie up the old newspapers and bring them to the recycling shed"

Blackjackverb

exert pressure on someone through threats

Blackmailverb

exert pressure on someone through threats