Grammar. noting or pertaining to a voice of verbal inflection in which typically the subject of the sentence is represented as performing the action expressed by the verb (opposed to passive): Writes in He writes a letter every day is an active verb form.
requiring or giving rise to action; practical: an active course.
(of a volcano) in eruption.
Accounting. profitable; busy: active accounts.
requiring personal effort or attention; not automatic: an active alarm system.
interest-bearing: active paper.
Medicine/Medical. acting quickly; producing immediate effects: active remedies.
Sociology. (of a crowd) engaging in purposeful activity, often of a militant nature.Compare expressive(def 4).
Aerospace. able to transmit signals: an active communications satellite.
Electronics. (of a device or system) acting as a source of electrical energy, as a generator, or capable of amplifying or converting voltages or currents, as a transistor or diode.
(of a solar heating system) accumulating and distributing solar heat by mechanical means.
3. Active,energetic,strenuous,vigorous imply a liveliness and briskness in accomplishing something. Active suggests quickness and diligence as opposed to laziness or dilatory methods: an active and useful person.Energetic suggests forceful and intense, sometimes nervous, activity: conducting an energetic campaign.Strenuous implies arduous and zealous activity with a sense of urgency: a strenuous effort.Vigorous suggests strong, effective activity: using vigorous measures to accomplish an end.
in a state of action; moving, working, or doing something
busy or involvedan active life
physically energetic
exerting influence; effectivean active ingredient
grammar
denoting a voice of verbs used to indicate that the subject of a sentence is performing the action or causing the event or process described by the verb, as kicked in The boy kicked the footballCompare passive (def. 5)
astronomy(of the sun) exhibiting a large number of sunspots, solar flares, etc, and a marked variation in intensity and frequency of radio emissionCompare quiet (def. 8)
commerce
producing or being used to produce profit, esp in the form of interestactive balances
of or denoting stocks or shares that have been actively bought and sold as recorded in the Official List of the London Stock Exchange
electronics
containing a source of poweran active network
capable of amplifying a signal or controlling some functionan active component; an active communication satellite
noun
grammar
the active voice
an active verb
mainlyUSa member of an organization who participates in its activities
mid-14c., "given to worldly activity" (opposed to contemplative or monastic), from Old French actif (12c.) or directly from Latin activus, from actus (see act (n.)). As "capable of acting" (opposed to passive), from late 14c. Meaning "energetic, lively" is from 1590s; that of "working, effective, in operation" is from 1640s. Active voice is recorded from 1765 (grammatical use of active dates from mid-15c.).
