/ ɪgˈzækt; NAmE / adjective , verb
■ adjective
1.
correct in every detail
SYN precise :
She gave an exact description of the attacker.
an exact copy / replica of the painting
We need to know the exact time the incident occurred.
What were his exact words?
She's in her mid-thirties—thirty-six to be exact .
The colours were an exact match.
He started to phone me at the exact moment I started to phone him (= at the same time) .
Her second husband was the exact opposite of her first (= completely different) .
➡ note at true
2.
( of people ) very accurate and careful about details
SYN meticulous , precise
3.
( of a science ) using accurate measurements and following set rules
SYN precise :
Assessing insurance risk can never be an exact science.
► exact·ness noun [ U ]
■ verb [ vn ] ~ sth (from sb) ( formal )
1.
to demand and get sth from sb :
She was determined to exact a promise from him.
2.
to make sth bad happen to sb :
Stress can exact a high price from workers (= can affect them badly) .
He exacted (= took) a terrible revenge for their treatment of him.
► exac·tion / ɪgˈzækʃn; NAmE / noun [ C , U ] ( formal )
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (as a verb): from Latin exact- completed, ascertained, enforced, from the verb exigere , from ex- thoroughly + agere perform. The adjective dates from the mid 16th cent. and reflects the Latin exactus precise.