The noun cause has 5 senses (first 5 from tagged texts)
1. (18) cause -- (events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something; "they are trying to determine the cause of the crash")
2. (9) cause, reason, grounds -- (a justification for something existing or happening; "he had no cause to complain"; "they had good reason to rejoice")
3. (8) campaign, cause, crusade, drive, movement, effort -- (a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end; "he supported populist campaigns"; "they worked in the cause of world peace"; "the team was ready for a drive toward the pennant"; "the movement to end slavery"; "contributed to the war effort")
4. (4) causal agent, cause, causal agency -- (any entity that produces an effect or is responsible for events or results)
5. (2) lawsuit, suit, case, cause, causa -- (a comprehensive term for any proceeding in a court of law whereby an individual seeks a legal remedy; "the family brought suit against the landlord")
Overview of verb cause
The verb cause has 2 senses (first 2 from tagged texts)
1. (114) cause, do, make -- (give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally; "cause a commotion"; "make a stir"; "cause an accident")
2. (46) induce, stimulate, cause, have, get, make -- (cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner; "The ads induced me to buy a VCR"; "My children finally got me to buy a computer"; "My wife made me buy a new sofa")