cause
[kawz] Show IPA
noun, verb, caused, caus·ing.
–noun
1.
a person or thing that acts, happens, or exists in such a way that some specific thing happens as a result; the producer of an effect: You have been the cause of much anxiety. What was the cause of the accident?
2.
the reason or motive for some human action: The good news was a cause for rejoicing.
3.
good or sufficient reason: to complain without cause; to be dismissed for cause.
4.
Law .
a.
a ground of legal action; the matter over which a person goes to law.
b.
a case for judicial decision.
5.
any subject of discussion or debate.
6.
a principle, ideal, goal, or movement to which a person or group is dedicated: the socialist cause; the human rights cause.
7.
the welfare of a person or group, seen as a subject of concern: support for the cause of the American Indian.
8.
Philosophy .
a.
the end or purpose for which a thing is done or produced.
b.
Aristotelianism . any of the four things necessary for the movement or the coming into being of a thing, namely a material (material cause), something to act upon it (efficient cause), a form taken by the movement or development (formal cause), and a goal or purpose (final cause).
–verb (used with object)
9.
to be the cause of; bring about.
—Idiom
10.
make common cause, to unite in a joint effort; work together for the same end: They made common cause with neighboring countries and succeeded in reducing tariffs.
be·cause
[bih-kawz, -koz, -kuhz] Show IPA
–conjunction
1.
for the reason that; due to the fact that: The boy was absent because he was ill.
—Idiom
2.
because of, by reason of; due to: Schools were closed because of heavy snowfall.
I was very disappointed that I was sick, because that meant I couldn't go to the party.
"I just had to do it, 'cause I knew I would regret it if I didn't."
Mary knew she was the cause of the commotion, although she didn't want to admit it.
