efficient
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Related to efficient: Efficient frontier, Efficient market hypothesis
ef·fi·cient
(ĭ-fĭsh′ənt)adj.
1. Acting or producing effectively with a minimum of waste, expense, or unnecessary effort: an efficient builder; an efficient factory.
2. Acting directly to produce an effect: the efficient cause of the revolution.
3. Causing less waste or requiring less effort than comparable devices or methods. Used in combination: energy-efficient wind turbines; cost-efficient health care.
[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin efficiēns, efficient-, present participle of efficere, to effect; see effect.]
ef·fi′cient·ly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
efficient
(ɪˈfɪʃənt)adj
1. functioning or producing effectively and with the least waste of effort; competent
2. (Philosophy) philosophy producing a direct effect; causative
[C14: from Latin efficiēns effecting]
efˈficiently adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
ef•fi•cient
(ɪˈfɪʃ ənt)adj.
1. performing or functioning effectively with the least waste of time and effort; competent; capable: an efficient secretary.
2. satisfactory and economical to use: a more efficient air conditioner.
3. producing an effect, as a cause; causative.
4. using a given product or resource with maximum efficiency (used in combination): a fuel-efficient engine.
[1350–1400; Middle English (< Middle French) < Latin efficient-, s. of efficiēns]
ef•fi′cient•ly, adv.
syn: See effective.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
effective
– efficient1. 'effective'
If someone or something is effective, they do something well and produce the results that were intended.
We need effective street lighting.
Simple antibiotics are effective against this virus.
She was very effective in getting people to communicate.
2. 'efficient'
If someone or something is efficient, they do a job well and successfully, without wasting time or energy.
You need a highly efficient production manager if you want to reduce costs.
Engines and cars can be made more efficient.
Be Careful!
Effective and efficient are often confused, but they have slightly different meanings. If you are effective, you do a job properly; if you are efficient, you do it quickly and easily.
Doing research at the library can be effective, but using the internet is often more efficient.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Adj. | 1. | efficient - being effective without wasting time or effort or expense; "an efficient production manager"; "efficient engines save gas" competent - properly or sufficiently qualified or capable or efficient; "a competent typist" effective, effectual, efficacious - producing or capable of producing an intended result or having a striking effect; "an air-cooled motor was more effective than a witch's broomstick for rapid long-distance transportation"-LewisMumford; "effective teaching methods"; "effective steps toward peace"; "made an effective entrance"; "his complaint proved to be effectual in bringing action"; "an efficacious law" inefficient - not producing desired results; wasteful; "an inefficient campaign against drugs"; "outdated and inefficient design and methods" |
| 2. | efficient - able to accomplish a purpose; functioning effectively; "people who will do nothing unless they get something out of it for themselves are often highly effective persons..."-G.B.Shaw; "effective personnel"; "an efficient secretary"; "the efficient cause of the revolution" competent - properly or sufficiently qualified or capable or efficient; "a competent typist" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
efficient
adjective
1. effective, successful, structured, productive, powerful, systematic, streamlined, cost-effective, methodical, well-organized, well-planned, labour-saving, effectual an efficient form of contraception
effective inefficient, wasteful, unproductive, ineffectual, disorganized
effective inefficient, wasteful, unproductive, ineffectual, disorganized
2. competent, able, professional, capable, organized, productive, skilful, adept, ready, proficient, businesslike, well-organized, workmanlike a highly efficient worker
competent incompetent, inefficient, sloppy, inept, disorganized, cowboy (informal), slipshod, unbusinesslike
competent incompetent, inefficient, sloppy, inept, disorganized, cowboy (informal), slipshod, unbusinesslike
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
efficient
adjective1. Producing or able to produce a desired effect:
2. Acting effectively with minimal waste:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
فَعَّالكُفء، قَدير، ماهِرناجِع، فَعّال
efektivníúčinnývýkonný
effektiv
tehokas
djelotvoran
gazdaságoshatékony
áhrifaríkur, skilvirkurhæfur, skilvirkur
効率的な
효율적인
našiainašumasnašussugebantis
efektīvslietpratīgsprasmīgsproduktīvsveikls
sposobenučinkovit
effektiv
ซึ่งมีประสิทธิภาพ
hiệu quả
efficient
[ɪˈfɪʃənt] ADJ1. [person, manager] → eficaz, eficiente; [method, remedy, product, system] → eficaz; [service, company, organization, army] → eficiente
to be efficient at doing sth → ser eficiente a la hora de hacer algo
to be efficient at doing sth → ser eficiente a la hora de hacer algo
2. (esp Mech, Phys) [machine] → de buen rendimiento
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
efficient
[ɪˈfɪʃənt] adj [person] → efficace; [method, means] → efficace; [machine, car] → d'un bon rendementCollins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
efficient
adj person → fähig, tüchtig; system, machine, company, organization → leistungsfähig; car, engine (= powerful) → leistungsfähig; (= economical) → sparsam, verbrauchsarm; service → gut, effizient (geh); method → wirksam; way, use → rationell; work is organized in the most logical and efficient way → die Arbeit wird so logisch und rationell wie möglich organisiert; to be efficient in or at (doing) something → etw gut können; she’s efficient at dealing with difficult customers → sie kann gut mit schwierigen Kunden umgehen; the body is remarkably efficient at dealing with such things → der Körper wird mit diesen Dingen bemerkenswert gut fertig; they are less efficient at turning sunlight into electricity → bei der Umwandlung von Sonnenlicht in elektrischen Strom sind sie weniger effektiv
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
efficient
[ɪˈfɪʃ/ənt] adj (person) → efficiente; (remedy, product, system) → efficace; (machine, car) → che ha un buon rendimentoCollins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
efficient
(iˈfiʃənt) adjective1. (of a person) capable; skilful. a very efficient secretary.
2. (of an action, tool etc) producing (quick and) satisfactory results. The new lawn mower is much more efficient than the old one.
efˈficiently adverbefˈficiency noun
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
efficient
→ فَعَّال výkonný effektiv leistungsfähig αποδοτικός eficiente tehokas efficace djelotvoran efficiente 効率的な 효율적인 efficiënt effektiv skuteczny eficiente эффективный effektiv ซึ่งมีประสิทธิภาพ etkin hiệu quả 效率高的Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
efficient
a. eficaz; eficiente;
adv. eficientemente.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012