active

comparative more active · superlative most active

1. Having the power or quality of acting; causing change; communicating action or motion; acting;—opposed to passive, that receives.

   certain active principles

   1 more example

   the active powers of the mind

   Synonyms: acting · Antonyms: passive

2. Quick in physical movement; of an agile and vigorous body; nimble.

   an active child or animal

   Synonyms: agile, nimble · Antonyms: passive, indolent, still

3. In action; actually proceeding; working; in force

   active laws

   1 more example

   active hostilities

   Synonyms: in action, working, in force · Antonyms: quiescent, dormant, extinct

   1. specificallysuch as volcano; geysers; etc; such as volcano; geysers; etcEmitting hot materials, such as lava, smoke, or steam, or producing tremors.

      Synonyms: in action, working, in force · Antonyms: quiescent, dormant, extinct

4. Given to action; constantly engaged in action; energetic; diligent; busy

   active mind

   3 more examples

   an active man of business

   active zeal

   This new-comer was a man who in any company would have seemed striking.[…]He was smooth-faced, and his fresh skin and well-developed figure bespoke the man in good physical condition through active exercise, yet well content with the world's apportionment.

   1910, Emerson Hough, chapter I, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC

   Synonyms: busy, deedful, diligent, energetic · Antonyms: dull, sluggish, indolent, inert

5. Requiring or implying action or exertion

   active scenes

   1 more example

   active employment or service

   Synonyms: operative · Antonyms: passive, tranquil, sedentary

6. Given to action rather than contemplation; practical; operative

   an active rather than a speculative statesman

   Antonyms: theoretical, speculative

7. Brisk; lively.

   an active demand for corn

8. Implying or producing rapid action.

   an active remedy

   1 more example

   an active disease

   Antonyms: passive, slow

9. About verbs.
   1. grammarApplied to a form of the verb; — opposed to passive. See active voice.
   2. grammarApplied to verbs which assert that the subject acts upon or affects something else; transitive.
   3. grammarApplied to all verbs that express action as distinct from mere existence or state.
10. computingEligible to be processed by a compiler or interpreter.

    Edge uses green text for comments. This makes it easier for you to quickly differentiate between active code and comments.

    2012, Chris Grover, “Triggering Actions”, in Adobe Edge Preview 5: The Missing Manual, 3rd edition, Sebastopol: O'Reilly Media, →ISBN, page 98

    1 more example

    I think it should be upgraded to Visual BASIC, but I'm no good at that. So maybe someone here would like to take a crack at it. There are only 40 lines of active code, plus a few REMs. About 100 BASIC commands altogether.

    2006 December 24, David Williams, “satellite program”, in comp.lang.basic.visual.misc (Usenet)

11. businessNot passive.
12. slangLGBTenjoying a role in anal sex in which he penetrates, rather than being penetrated by his partner.

    Synonyms: top · Antonyms: passive, bottom

plural actives

1. A person or thing that is acting or capable of acting.

   "Alumni could become more active in giving guidance and leadership to students. They act as sort of a 'maturity governor' on fraternities," notes Ratliff, citing surveys suggesting that fraternity actives presume mistakenly that alumni want hazing […]

   1989, The Alcalde, volume 78, number 2, page 11

2. businessAny component that is not passive. See Passivity (engineering).

   Components are split into two broad segments: actives and passives. Active components like the vacuum tube and the transistor contain the power to generate and alter electrical signals.

   2013, David Manners, Hitchhikers' Guide to Electronics in the '90s, page 36