reason

1. 1

   A cause:; That which causes something: an efficient cause, a proximate cause.countableuncountable

   • The reason this tree fell is that it had rotted.
2. 2

   A cause:; A motive for an action or a determination.countableuncountable

   • He made reason with his boss about taking a day off.
   • The reason I robbed the bank was that I needed the money.
3. 3

   A cause:; An excuse: a thought or a consideration offered in support of a determination or an opinion; that which is offered or accepted as an explanation.countableuncountable

   • I have forgotten the reason he gave for not travelling by air. I felt sure that it was not the correct reason, and that he suffered from a heart trouble which he kept to himself.
4. 4

   A cause:; A premise placed after its conclusion.countableuncountable

5. 5

   Rational thinking (or the capacity for it); the cognitive faculties, collectively, of conception, judgment, deduction and intuition.uncountable

   • Mankind should develop reason above all other virtues.
6. 6

   Something reasonable, in accordance with thought; justice.countableobsoleteuncountable

   • 16th century Edmund Spenser, Lines on his Promised Pension I was promised, on a time, To have reason for my rhyme.
7. 7

   Ratio; proportion.countableobsoleteuncountable

   • [I]f two Quantities repreſented by the Numbers 20 and 4 be compared, by dividing the Antecedent 20 by the Conſequent 4, the Quotient is 5; but inverting the Terms, by dividing 4 by 20 the Quotient is #92;tfrac#123;4#125;#123;20#125;#61;#92;

syn. that which causes

1. 1

   To deduce or come to a conclusion by being rational.intransitive

   • "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from insufficient data. […]"
2. 2

   To perform a process of deduction or of induction, in order to convince or to confute; to argue.intransitive

   • Still my spirit was not broken. I indulged the anticipation of escape, and that speedily. It was impossible, I reasoned, that men could be so unjust as to detain me as a slave, when the truth of my case was known.
3. 3

   To converse; to compare opinions.intransitiveobsolete

4. 4

   To arrange and present the reasons for or against; to examine or discuss by arguments; to debate or discuss.ambitransitive

   • I reasoned the matter with my friend.
5. 5

   To support with reasons, as a request.raretransitive

6. 6

   To persuade by reasoning or argument.transitive

   • to reason one into a belief; to reason one out of his plan
7. 7

   To overcome or conquer by adducing reasons.transitivewith-down

   • to reason down a passion
8. 8

   To find by logical process; to explain or justify by reason or argument.transitiveusually

   • to reason out the causes of the librations of the moon

1. 1

   A wall plate.