cause/effect

Từ điển Oxford Learners Wordfinder Dictionary

1 causes
2 effects and results
3 causing and resulting
4 events which are connected
see also REASON, POWER

1 causes
- a thing or person that makes sth happen: cause
Pollution is the cause of many health problems.
- the cause of sth; sth that explains why sth happens: reason (for ※€¦/why ※€¦/that ※€¦)
Do you know the reason for the delay? ◎ I can think of no good reason why he should go away so suddenly.
- to be the real, possibly hidden, cause of sth: lie* behind sth
What do you think lies behind the increase in crime?
- if sth is partly the cause of sth, it contributes to sth
His friendly personality contributes to his success as a teacher.
- a person who causes sth to happen is responsible for it; noun (U): responsibility
Who was responsible for the accident? ◎ He refused to accept responsibility for what had happened.
- a person or thing that changes sb/sth in a particular way: influence (on sb/sth) (noun C/U)
His influence on younger composers has been underestimated.

2 effects and results
- something which happens because sth else causes it: result, consequence
The result of the accident was that he had to spend the night in hospital. ◎ The decision had unpleasant consequences for the people living in that area. ◎ a clear (= certain or obvious) consequence of her action
- the final situation at the end of a process: result, outcome
What was the result of the election? ◎ The most likely outcome of our discussion is that we shall have to find a new secretary.
- a change that is caused by sth: effect
You can't just ignore the possible effects of your own actions. ◎ a definite (= certain) effect
- if you want to say how a result has happened, you can say that it arises* from sth, comes* from sth, results from sth
This sort of problem arises from an unhappy childhood. ◎ His bad health comes from smoking too much. ◎ His success results from a lot of hard work.
- if a particular result is expected, it is probable, likely; opposites: improbable, unlikely
※ more on being probable, likely, etc POSSIBLE
- more on knowing about the future FUTURE
※—† good effects
- a good effect: benefit
You should feel the benefit of the diet after two weeks.
- if sth produces a good or useful effect, it is beneficial, fruitful
A week in a warm climate would have a beneficial effect on her. ◎ The discussions were particularly fruitful.
- a useful effect of a process that had a different aim: spin-off
Military research sometimes has important commercial spin-offs.
※—† no effect
- if sth does not produce the effect or result that you want, it is ineffective, useless
I've stopped taking those tablets - they were completely ineffective. ◎ This skin cream is useless - look how burnt I've got.
- if you try to do sth but do not succeed, you do it in vain
She tried in vain to make him change his mind.
- if sb or sth is not changed by sth, they are unaffected by sth
Her work seems to be unaffected by all the problems she's having at home.

3 causing and resulting
- to be the cause of sth: cause sth, bring* sth (about), lead* to sth
Overwork causes stress. ◎ The collapse of the economy has brought about many changes in the last year. ◎ Eating too many sweet foods can lead to health problems.
- to do sth which starts a reaction: set* sth off
The photos set off more speculation about life on Mars.
- to have sth as a result: result in sth, end in sth
The recent hot weather has resulted in a severe lack of water. ◎ Our discussion ended in a decision to close the factory.
- to cause sb/sth to change in a particular way: affect sb/sth, have an effect on sb/sth
Exposure to the chemicals has seriously affected his health. ◎ His work has been affected by his problems at home. ◎ Those tablets have a very strange effect on me.
- to begin to show the result that is required: take* effect
You need to wait quite a long time before the medicine takes effect.
- to have an effect (especially on your feelings or attitude): influence sb/sth
Some people say that the weather influences the way they feel.
- to have a good effect on sb/sth: benefit sb/sth, make* a difference to sb/sth
It will make a great difference to him if he can get away from the office for a few weeks.
- (used about an effect) to become less strong: wear* off
The effect of those aspirins is wearing off - my headache's coming back.
※—† having an effect on a person
- to cause a reaction, usually physical, in sb: give* sb sth
Seafood gives me stomach-ache.
- to cause a feeling in sb: make* sb (feel) sth
That film made me feel really sad.
- to cause sb to decide to do sth: prompt sb to do sth
The letter prompted me to call my parents.
- to cause sb to do sth when that person does not want to do it: make* sb do sth, force sb to do sth
I didn't like vegetables when I was a child, but my mother always made me eat them.
- if an unpleasant situation causes sb to do sth extreme, it drives* them to do sth
The noise my neighbours made finally drove me to go to the police.
※—† expressing cause and result
- if you want to talk about the cause of sth, you can say because of ※€¦, due to ※€¦, owing to ※€¦
I couldn't sleep last night because of all the noise my neighbours were making. ◎ The increase in ice-cream sales was due to the unusually hot weather. ◎ Owing to the train strike, I was late for the meeting.
- because of sb/sth (sometimes used in a negative way): thanks to ※€¦
Thanks to you, we're lost.
- if you want to talk about the result of sth, you can say so, therefore, as a result, consequently
I was cold and tired and the heating was off, so I decided to go to bed. ◎ The sales staff travel all over the country. They are therefore well informed about local problems.

4 events which are connected
- if A is a possible cause of B, then there is a connection (noun C/U), relationship (noun C/U), link (noun C/U) between A and B
I can't see any relationship between violence on TV and the increase in crime. ◎ There is obviously a link between his poverty and his illness.
- having a connection with sb/sth: connected (to/with sb/sth), related (to sb/sth), linked (to/with sb/sth)
Most people think that the two events are connected. ◎ The cost of vegetables is directly related to the size of the harvest.
- to have a connection with sb/sth else: be/have something, a lot, etc to do with sb/sth
I think the poor attendance must have something to do with the weather. ◎ Is this letter anything to do with you?
- to show that there is a connection between two or more things: connect sth to/with sth, relate sth to/with sth, link sth to/with sth
The fingerprints linked him with the scene of the crime.
- to connect two or more things in your mind: associate sb/sth (with sb/sth); noun: association
Scientists see a clear association between diet and heart disease.
- a number of connected events that happen one after the other: sequence, chain
the chain of events that led up to the disaster
- having no connection with sth else: unconnected (with sth), unrelated (to sth)
She left for reasons that were quite unrelated with the row. ◎ Although these things happened at the same time, they were unrelated.