Main Entry: ²answer

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): an·swered; an·swer·ing \ˈan(t)s-riŋ, ˈan(t)-sə-\

Date: before 12th century

intransitive verb 1 : to speak or write in reply
2 a : to be or make oneself responsible or accountable <answer for a debt> b : to make amends : atone <must answer for his crimes>
3 : to be in conformity or correspondence <answered to the description>
4 : to act in response to an action performed elsewhere or by another <the home team scored first but the visitors answered quickly>
5 : to be adequate : serve <an old bucket answered for a sink>transitive verb 1 a : to speak or write in reply to <answer a question> <answer me> b : to say or write by way of reply <answer yes or no>
2 : to reply to in rebuttal, justification, or explanation <answer an accusation>
3 a : to correspond to <answers the description> b : to be adequate or usable for : fulfill <answer a need>
4 obsolete : to atone for
5 : to act in response to <answered the call to arms>
6 : to offer a solution for; especially : solve <answer a riddle>

— an·swer·er \ˈan(t)-sər-ər\ noun