1 to do something

◊ It’s time the government acted to lower taxes. 

Icelandic aðhafast, gera

2 to behave

◊ He acted foolishly at the meeting.

Icelandic hegða sér

3 to preform (a part) in a play

◊ He has acted (the part of Romeo) on many occasions.

◊ I thought he was dying, but he was only acting (=pretending).

Icelandic leika

■ noun

1 something done

◊ Running away is an act of cowardice.

◊ He committed many cruel acts.

Icelandic athöfn

modifier

     ↓

2 (often with capital) a law

◊ Acts of Parliament.

Icelandic lög

3 a section of a play

◊ ‘Hamlet’ has five acts.

Icelandic þáttur

4 an entertainment

◊ an act called ‘The Smith Family’

Icelandic leikþáttur