a nonverbal reaction; "his answer to any problem was to get drunk"; "their answer was to sue me"
the principle pleading by the defendant in response to plaintiff's complaint; in criminal law it consists of the defendant's plea of `guilty' or `not guilty' (or nolo contendere); in civil law it must contain denials of all allegations in the plaintiff's complaint that the defendant hopes to controvert and it can contain affirmative defenses or counterclaims
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made in reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation; "I waited several days for his answer"; "he wrote replies to several of his critics"
the speech act of replying to a question
understand the meaning of; "The question concerning the meaning of life cannot be answered"
give the correct answer or solution to; "answer a question"; "answer the riddle"
react to a stimulus or command; "The steering of my new car answers to the slightest touch"
respond to a signal; "answer the door"; "answer the telephone"
give a defence or refutation of (a charge) or in (an argument); "The defendant answered to all the charges of the prosecution"
reply or respond to; "She didn't want to answer"; "answer the question"; "We answered that we would accept the invitation"
be satisfactory for; meet the requirements of or serve the purpose of; "This may answer her needs"
match or correspond; "The drawing of the suspect answers to the description the victim gave"
be liable or accountable; "She must answer for her actions"
the speech act of answering an attack on your assertions; "his refutation of the charges was short and persuasive"; "in defense he said the other man started it"
a remote or indirect consequence of some action; "his declaration had unforeseen repercussions"; "reverberations of the market crash were felt years later"
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure; "grew the usual vegetables"; "the usual summer heat"; "came at the usual time"; "the child's usual bedtime"
total debits and credits are equal; "the books looked balanced"
being in a state of proper balance or equilibrium; "the carefully balanced seesaw"; "a properly balanced symphony orchestra"; "a balanced assessment of intellectual and cultural history"; "a balanced blend of whiskeys"; "the educated man shows a balanced development of all his powers"