• (RP) enPR: kôz, IPA: /kɔːz/, [kʰɔːz]
• (America) IPA: /kɔz/, [kʰɔːz]

cause

1. (countable, often with of, typically of adverse results) The source of, or reason for, an event or action; that which produces or effects a result.

   They identified a burst pipe as the cause of the flooding.

   • 1595 December 9 (first known performance)​​, William Shakespeare, “The life and death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act I, scene i], page 23 ↗, column 1:

     We thanke you both, yet one but flatters vs,
     As well appeareth by the cauſe you come,
     Namely, to appeale each other of high treaſon.

2. (uncountable, especially with for and a bare noun) Sufficient reason for a state, as of emotion.

   There is no cause for alarm.

   ''The end of the war was a cause for celebration.

3. (countable) A goal, aim or principle, especially one which transcends purely selfish ends.
   • c. 1597, William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act V, scene i]:

     God befriend us, as our cause is just.

   • The part they take against me is from zeal to the cause.

4. (obsolete) Sake; interest; advantage.
   • Bible, 2 Corinthians 7:12

     I did it not for his cause.

5. (countable, obsolete) Any subject of discussion or debate; a matter; an affair.
   • 1591, William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act III, scene i]:

     What counsel give you in this weighty cause?

6. (countable, legal) A suit or action in court; any legal process by which a party endeavors to obtain his claim, or what he regards as his right; case; ground of action.

• (source or reason) seeSynonyms en
• (reason for a state) grounds, justification
• (goal, aim or principle) seeSynonyms en

• French: cause, raison
• German: Ursache, Anlass, Grund
• Italian: causa
• Portuguese: causa
• Russian: причи́на
• Spanish: causa

• French: cause
• German: Sache
• Italian: causa
• Portuguese: causa
• Russian: де́ло
• Spanish: causa

cause (causes, present participle causing; past and past participle caused)

1. (transitive) To set off an event or action.

   The lightning caused thunder.

   • 1910, Emerson Hough, chapter I, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, OCLC 639762314 ↗, page 0045 ↗:

     Serene, smiling, enigmatic, she faced him with no fear whatever showing in her dark eyes. […] She put back a truant curl from her forehead where it had sought egress to the world, and looked him full in the face now, drawing a deep breath which caused the round of her bosom to lift the lace at her throat.

2. (ditransitive) To actively produce as a result, by means of force or authority.

   His dogged determination caused the fundraising to be successful.

   • Bible, Book of Genesis vii.4

     I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days.

3. To assign or show cause; to give a reason; to make excuse.

• French: causer
• German: verursachen, auslösen
• Italian: provocare, causare
• Portuguese: causar
• Russian: причиня́ть
• Spanish: causar

• Italian: produrre, ottenere
• Portuguese: causar, fazer