act // noun, verb

■ noun [C]

1 (usually Act)

a law that has been made by a parliament:

Many companies could be in breach of the Data Protection Act.

❖ The act contains regulations governing investments by brokers.

⇨ ORDINANCE, REGULATION

❖ to amend/pass/repeal an act

2 (Law )

something that sb does that is harmful to sb else:

The auditors had been warned of possible illegal acts within the company.

❖ The accused denies committing a criminal act.

❖ to commit a criminal/an illegal act

IDIOMS

be/get in on the act (especially BrE) (AmE usually get into the act) (informal)

to be/become involved in an activity that sb else has started, especially to get some benefit for yourself

get your act together (informal)

to behave in a more effective or responsible way:

The EU needs to get its act together to enforce the new law.

CLEAN verb

■ verb [no obj]

to do sth for a particular purpose or to deal with a particular situation:

We have acted in the shareholders' best interests.

The management has realized its mistake and has acted quickly to avoid disaster.

The court found that the company was a monopoly and had acted illegally.

The broker acted honestly and in good faith (= believing he was doing the right thing).

They have argued that the group acted against shareholder interests.

Companies must act in accordance with fair business practises.

PHRASAL VERBS

act for sb/sth; act on behalf of sb/sth

1

to deal with sb's/sth's affairs for them:

accountants acting for a number of trusts

2 (Law )

to represent sb/sth in a court:

The law firm is acting on behalf of the company in bankruptcy proceedings.

act as sth

to perform a particular function; to do a particular job, especially one that requires special skills or is very responsible:

Ms Nelson will continue to act as a consultant for six other companies.

Large fines do not always act as a deterrent.

act on sth (also act upon sth, especially formal)

to do sth as a result of advice, information, instructions, etc. that you have received:

The board failed to act on the takeover offer.

She claims she was acting on her boss's instructions.

• audience research
• audio-
• audio conferencing
• audio-visual
• audit
• audit failure
• auditor
• auditorium
• audit report
• audit trail
• augmented product
• AUM
• austerity
• authenticate
• authenticity
• authoring
• authority
• authorization
• authorization code
• authorize
• authorized capital
• authorized shares
• auto
• auto-
• autocratic