The noun act has 5 senses (first 4 from tagged texts)
1. (35) act, enactment -- (a legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body)
2. (26) act, human action, human activity -- (something that people do or cause to happen)
3. (9) act -- (a subdivision of a play or opera or ballet)
4. (3) act, routine, number, turn, bit -- (a short theatrical performance that is part of a longer program; "he did his act three times every evening"; "she had a catchy little routine"; "it was one of the best numbers he ever did")
5. act -- (a manifestation of insincerity; "he put on quite an act for her benefit")
Overview of verb act
The verb act has 10 senses (first 5 from tagged texts)
1. (35) act, move -- (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action); "think before you act"; "We must move quickly"; "The governor should act on the new energy bill"; "The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel")
2. (22) act, behave, do -- (behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself; "You should act like an adult"; "Don't behave like a fool"; "What makes her do this way?"; "The dog acts ferocious, but he is really afraid of people")
3. (7) act, play, represent -- (play a role or part; "Gielgud played Hamlet"; "She wants to act Lady Macbeth, but she is too young for the role"; "She played the servant to her husband's master")
4. (4) act -- (discharge one's duties; "She acts as the chair"; "In what capacity are you acting?")
5. (1) act, play, act as -- (pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind; "He acted the idiot"; "She plays deaf when the news are bad")
6. act -- (be suitable for theatrical performance; "This scene acts well")
7. work, act -- (have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected; "The voting process doesn't work as well as people thought"; "How does your idea work in practice?"; "This method doesn't work"; "The breaks of my new car act quickly"; "The medicine works only if you take it with a lot of water")
8. act -- (be engaged in an activity, often for no particular purpose other than pleasure)
9. dissemble, pretend, act -- (behave unnaturally or affectedly; "She's just acting")
10. act, play, roleplay, playact -- (perform on a stage or theater; "She acts in this play"; "He acted in `Julius Caesar'"; "I played in `A Christmas Carol'")