cause

n.

1. An underlying principle

   motive, reason, causation, object, purpose, explanation, inducement, incitement, prime mover, motive power, mainspring, ultimate cause, basis, justification, ground, matter, element, stimulation, instigation, foundation, determinant, wherefore, the why and wherefore; see also basis 1, reason 3.

   Antonyms effect, result*, outcome. *

2. The origin or source, thought of as the cause

   antecedent, root, beginning; see origin 3.

3. The immediate moving force

   antecedent, agent, condition, etiology, prompting, ground, problem, subject of dispute, matter, occasion, case, circumstance, precedent, situation, fault, straw that breaks the camel's back; see also circumstance 1, circumstances 2, event 1.

4. A person who brings about a result

   originator, agent, doer, instigator; see author 1, doer.

5. A belief

   principles, conviction, creed, movement; see belief 1, faith 2.

6. Aim

   object, goal, ideal, objective; see plan 2, purpose 1.

causerefers to a situation, event, or agent that produces an effect or result carelessness is often a cause of accidents; reason implies the mental activity of a rational being in explaining or justifying some act or thought she had a reason for laughing; a motive is an impulse, emotion, or desire that leads to action the motive for a crime; an antecedent is an event or thing that is the predecessor of, and is usually to some extent responsible for, a later event or thing war always has its antecedents; a determinant is a cause that helps to determine the character of an effect or result ambition was a determinant in his success

cause

v.

1. To bring about

   produce, effect, make, let; see begin 1, create 2.

2. To be the cause

   originate, provoke, generate, occasion, kindle, give rise to, induce, precipitate, prompt, bring about, bring on, spell, give occasion to, lie at the root of, be at the bottom of, bring to pass, sow the seeds of, breed; see also begin 1.