Actor

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈak.tə(ɹ)/

Definitions

1. A person who performs roles in plays, movies, television shows, or other forms of entertainment
2. A performer who embodies characters for theatrical productions, films, or television, and may also engage in improvisation or scripted performances
3. An individual skilled in interpreting and portraying various roles in dramas, films, or television, often collaborating with directors and other artists

Etymology: The English word "actor" is one of the few agent nouns that kept its Latin meaning almost intact: a Latin "āctor" was simply a "doer," someone who carried out business, and the word came into English through Anglo-Norman and Middle French, first appearing in Middle English as "actour." Its root is the Latin verb "agō," meaning "to do," which also gave English "agent," "agenda," and "act" itself. The "-or" ending marks the doer, so the word is literally "one who acts." The older Greek relative is a surprise. The cognate "áktōr" in ancient Greek meant "leader," and it is tied to "ágō," "to lead, carry, or bring." So the same family of words once described a leader or a driver of affairs before it settled on the stage. The theatrical sense was only one application of a much broader idea of doing and leading.

Synonyms: performer, thespian, player, artist, star

Antonyms: audience, spectator, viewer, listener, non-actor