"action in resistance or response to another action or power," 1610s, from re- "again, anew" + action (q.v.). Modeled on French réaction, older Italian reattione, from Medieval Latin reactionem (nominative reactio), noun of action formed in Late Latin from past participle stem of Latin reagere "react," from re- "back" + agere "to do, act" (see act (v.)).
Originally scientific; physiological sense is attested from 1805; psychological sense first recorded 1887; general sense of "action or feeling in response" (to a statement, event, etc.) is recorded from 1914. Reaction time, "time elapsing between the action of an external stimulus and the giving of a signal in reply," attested by 1874.
实用例句
1. There has been a very mixed reaction to the decision.
对于这个决定的反应非常不一致。
来自柯林斯例句
2. Our instinctive reaction when someone causes us pain is to strike back.
当被别人弄疼时我们本能的反应是反击。
来自柯林斯例句
3. Adolescent suicide is rarely an impulsive reaction to immediate distress.
青少年自杀很少是由于突然发生不幸而作出的冲动反应。
来自柯林斯例句
4. All new fashion starts out as a reaction against existing convention.
所有新时尚都是从打破现有常规开始的。
来自柯林斯例句
5. Whenever recession strikes, a chain reaction is set into motion.
