| 释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024a•gent /ˈeɪdʒənt/USA pronunciation n. [countable]- a person or thing that acts.
- a person or business authorized to act on another's behalf:The ballplayer's agent got him a higher salary.
- a natural force or object producing or used for obtaining specific results:Many insects are agents of fertilization.
- a person who works for or manages an agency:a travel agent.
- Governmenta person who acts in an official capacity for a government agency:an FBI agent.
- Grammar(in grammar) a word or phrase, usually a noun or noun phrase, that performs or causes the action expressed by the verb.
- Chemistrya drug, chemical, or substance that causes a chemical or biological reaction.
a•gen•tial /eɪˈdʒɛnʃəl/USA pronunciation adj. In an active sentence, the agent is usually the subject, such as The police in The police caught the thief. But in a passive sentence, the agent may appear after by, as in The thief was caught by the police, where the agent is still the police. In other passive sentences, the agent may not appear at all; Your wallet was stolen has no noun phrase that is the agent.See -ag-. WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024a•gent (ā′jənt),USA pronunciation n. - a person or business authorized to act on another's behalf:Our agent in Hong Kong will ship the merchandise. A best-selling author needs a good agent.
- a person or thing that acts or has the power to act.
- a natural force or object producing or used for obtaining specific results:Many insects are agents of fertilization.
- an active cause;
an efficient cause. - a person who works for or manages an agency.
- Governmenta person who acts in an official capacity for a government or private agency, as a guard, detective, or spy:an FBI agent; the secret agents of a foreign power.
- a person responsible for a particular action:Who was the agent of this deed?
- Grammara form or construction, usually a noun or noun phrase, denoting an animate being that performs or causes the action expressed by the verb, as the police in The car was found by the police.
- GovernmentSee Indian agent.
- a representative of a business firm, esp. a traveling salesperson;
canvasser;
solicitor. - Chemistrya substance that causes a reaction.
- Drugs[Pharm.]a drug or chemical capable of eliciting a biological response.
- Pathologyany microorganism capable of causing disease.
- Government[Brit.]a campaign manager;
an election agent.
adj. - acting;
exerting power (opposed to patient).
v.t. - to represent (a person or thing) as an agent;
act as an agent on:Who agented that deal?
- Latin agent- (stem of agēns (present participle) doing), equivalent. to ag- (root of agere to do) + -ent- -ent
- 1570–80
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged representative, deputy.
- 3.See corresponding entry in Unabridged means.
agent, + v.t. - to represent (a person or thing) as an agent;
act as an agent for:to agent a manuscript; Who agented that deal?
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: agent /ˈeɪdʒənt/ n - a person who acts on behalf of another person, group, business, government, etc; representative
- a person or thing that acts or has the power to act
- a phenomenon, substance, or organism that exerts some force or effect: a chemical agent
- the means by which something occurs or is achieved; instrument
- a person representing a business concern, esp a travelling salesman
Etymology: 15th Century: from Latin agent-, noun use of the present participle of agere to doagential /eɪˈdʒɛnʃəl/ adj |