act-n; 8 Senses

Sense Number 1: a legal document codifying deliberations

Commentary: ACT[+document][+legal][+statue]

Examples:
Congress eventually revoked the prohibition act.
It was a legislative act in New York passed in 1998.
These acts of congress may be vetoed by the president.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1

Sense Number 2: any human deed or feat

Commentary: ACT[+action][+deed][+human]

Examples:
The firefighters performed acts of true heroism that day.
He caught her in the act of stealing candy from his desk.
Sexual acts with minors are against the law.
It was a deceitful act for the boy to steal money and lie about it.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 2

Sense Number 3: major subdivision of a theatrical work

Commentary: ACT[+structure][+symbolic][+subdivision][+major][+work][+theatrical]

Examples:
Violetta finally dies in the third act of the opera.
The critics didn't like the first act but thought the climax was effective.
John has written the first two acts of a new play.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 3

Sense Number 4: a fixed routine or short theatrical performance

Commentary: ACT[+activity][+performance][+routine][+fixed][+theatrical]
NOTE: refers to a short performance, not insincere or manipulative (see Sense 5)

Examples:
They are just doing an old vaudeville act.
This trapeze act requires three performers to be in the air at once.
Bob did his Charlie Chaplin act for us while we waited for the bus.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 4

Sense Number 5: insincere behavior, a pretense, often manipulative

Commentary: ACT[+activity][+behavior][+insincere]
NOTE: often implies a routine but it masks intentions and is manipulative.

Examples:
The child's crying was just an act to get a second ice cream cone.
His aloofness is just an act to play hard to get with the girls.
The dictator's overt threats were mostly an act to attract international attention.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 5

Sense Number 6: a troupe of performers

Commentary: ACT[+group][+people][+performers]
NOTE: refers to the people, not the performance

Examples:
The night club has booked two comedy acts and a magic act next month. (people are booked)
Back n the forties they were a sister act that did singing and dancing.
They are an act that has been around for twenty years.

Mappings:
WordNet 0.0 Sense Numbers: 4b

Sense Number 7: an undertaking, a scheme

Commentary: Idiom: in_on_the_act

Examples:
They let Bob in on the act at work concerning the prank to be pulled on Mary.
The two older boys never let their little brother in on the act.

Mappings:
WordNet 0.0 Sense Numbers: in_on_the_act

Sense Number 8: none of the above

Commentary: Automatically generated NOTA sense (bbn)

Examples:

Mappings: