affect: Meaning and Definition of

af•fect

1. to act on; produce an effect or change in: Cold weather affected the crops.
2. to impress the mind or move the feelings of: The music affected him deeply.
3. (of pain, disease, etc.) to attack or lay hold of.

1. feeling or emotion.
2. an expressed or observed emotional response: Restricted, flat, or blunted affect may be a symptom of mental illness, especially schizophrenia.
3. affection; passion; sensation; inclination; inward disposition or feeling.

af•fect

1. to give the appearance of; pretend or feign: to affect knowledge of the situation.
2. to assume artificially, pretentiously, or for effect: to affect a Southern accent.
3. to use, wear, or adopt by preference; choose; prefer: the peculiar costume he affected.
4. to assume the character or attitude of: to affect the freethinker.
5. (of things) to tend toward habitually or naturally: a substance that affects colloidal form.
6. (of animals and plants) to occupy or inhabit; live in or on: Lions affect Africa. Moss affects the northern slopes.
1. to have affection for; fancy.
2. to aim at; aspire to.

1. to incline, tend, or favor (usually fol. by to): He affects to the old ways.