cause

Multiple Entries:
  cause    'cause  

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
cause/kɔːz/

▶noun

• 1 a person or thing that gives rise to an action, phenomenon, or condition.

  ■ reasonable grounds for a belief or action.

• 2 a principle or movement which one is prepared to defend or advocate.

  ■ something deserving of support.

• 3 a matter to be resolved in a court of law.

  ■ an individual's case offered at law.

▶verb make (something, especially something bad) happen; be the cause of.

– phrases
cause and effect the relationship between an action or event and the effect that it produces.
make common cause unite to achieve a shared aim.

– derivatives
causeless adjective,
causer noun.

– origin ME: from OFr., from L. causa (n.), causare (v.).

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
'cause/kɒz/

▶conjunction informal because.