Cause
 

cause
noun1.events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something; "they are trying to determine the cause of the crash"2.a justification for something existing or happening; "he had no cause to complain"; "they had good reason to rejoice"3.a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end; "he supported populist campaigns"; "they worked in the cause of world peace"; "the team was ready for a drive toward the pennant"; "the movement to end slavery"; "contributed to the war effort"[syn: campaign]4.any entity that produces an effect or is responsible for events or results[syn: causal agent]5.a comprehensive term for any proceeding in a court of law whereby an individual seeks a legal remedy; "the family brought suit against the landlord"[syn: lawsuit]
verb1.give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally; "cause a commotion"; "make a stir"; "cause an accident"2.cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner; "The ads induced me to buy a VCR"; "My children finally got me to buy a computer"; "My wife made me buy a new sofa"[syn: induce]