rə̇ˈspän(t)s, rēˈs- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English & Latin; Middle English respounse, from Middle French respons, from Latin responsum reply, from neuter of responsus, past participle of respondēre to answer — more at respond
1. : an act or action of responding (as by an answer) : a responsive or corresponding act or feeling : a responding to a motive force or situation : reaction
the sensitive and wistful response of a poet to the gentler phase of beauty — American Guide Series: Minnesota
the response of a wire to the flow of electric current
as
a. : a liturgical answer in the form of a verse, sentence, phrase, or word sung or said by the people or choir after or in reply to the officiant at a religious service and often indicated in liturgical books by R or ℟ : respond , responsory ; also : an anthem sung after or during a lection
b. : a supernatural answer (as by an oracle)
c.
(1) : answer 5
(2) : the chorus or refrain of a folk song or rhyme
d. : reply to an objection in formal disputation
e.
(1) : activity or inhibition of previous activity of an organism or of any of its parts resulting from stimulation
a motor response
a native response
(2) : such activity or inhibition existing in a covariant relationship with drive, cue, and reinforcement
f. : the output of a transducer or detecting device resulting from a given input ; specifically : the voltage output of a microphone per unit amplitude of sound pressure at the diaphragm — compare response curve
g. : a bridge bid made by a player who responds
2. : a half pier or pillar that supports an arch