<p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>a spoken or written reply or response to a question, request, letter, etc.: He sent an answer to my letter promptly.</li><li>Synonyms: riposte.</li><li>a correct response to a question asked to test one's knowledge.</li><li>an equivalent or approximation: The band tried to be the French answer to the Beatles.</li><li>an action serving as a reply or response: The answer was a volley of fire.</li><li>a solution to a problem, especially in mathematics.</li><li>a reply to a charge or accusation.</li><li>Synonyms: plea, defense.</li><li>Law: a pleading in which a party responds to the opponent's statement of position, especially the defendant's reply to the plaintiff's complaint.</li><li>Music: the entrance of a fugue subject, usually on the dominant, either slightly altered or transposed exactly after each presentation in the tonic.</li></ul><p><strong>Verb</strong></p><ul><li>(used without object) to speak or write in response; make answer; reply.</li><li>to respond by an act or motion: He answered with a nod. The champion answered with a right to the jaw.</li><li>to act or suffer in consequence of (usually followed by for).</li><li>to be or declare oneself responsible or accountable (usually followed by for): I will answer for his safety.</li><li>to be satisfactory or serve (usually followed by for): His cane answered for a baseball bat.</li><li>to conform; correspond (usually followed by to): The prisoner answered to the description issued by the police.</li><li>(used with object) to speak or write in response to; reply to: to answer a person; to answer a question.</li><li>to act or move in response to: Answer the doorbell. We answered their goal with two quick goals of our own.</li><li>to solve or present a solution of.</li><li>to serve or fulfill: This will answer the purpose.</li><li>to discharge (a responsibility, claim, debt, etc.).</li><li>to conform or correspond to; be similar or equivalent to: This dog answers your description.</li><li>to atone for; make amends for.</li><li>to reply or respond favorably to: I would like to answer your request but am unable to do so.</li><li>verb phrase: to reply impertinently or rudely: Well-behaved children do not answer back when scolded.</li></ul>