exact

Etymology

From Old French, from Medieval Latin exactare, reg., from Latin exactus, perfect passive participle of exigō (“demand, claim as due" or "measure by a standard, weigh, test”), from ex (“out”) + agō (“drive”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɪɡˈzækt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ækt

Adjective

exact (comparative more exact, superlative most exact)

1. Precisely agreeing with a standard, a fact, or the truth; perfectly conforming; neither exceeding nor falling short in any respect.

   The clock keeps exact time.

   He paid the exact debt.

   an exact copy of a letter

   exact accounts

2. Habitually careful to agree with a standard, a rule, or a promise; accurate; methodical; punctual.

   a man exact in observing an appointment

   In my doings I was exact.

   • John Milton (1608-1674)

     I see thou art exact of taste.

   • 1661, John Fell, The Life of the most learned, reverend and pious Dr. H. Hammond

     During the whole time of his abode in the university he generally spent thirteen hours of the day in study; by which assiduity besides an exact dispatch of the whole course of philosophy, he read over in a manner all classic authors that are extant […]

3. Precisely or definitely conceived or stated; strict.
   • William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

     An exact command, / Larded with many several sorts of reason.

4. (algebra, of a sequence of groups connected by homomorphisms) Such that the kernel of one homomorphism is the image of the preceding one.

Verb

exact (third-person singular simple present exacts, present participle exacting, simple past and past participle exacted)

1. (transitive) To demand and enforce the payment or performance of, sometimes in a forcible or imperative way.

   to exact tribute, fees, or obedience from someone.

   • Bible, Luke iii. 13

     He said into them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.

2. (transitive) To make desirable or necessary.
   • Massinger

     My designs exact me in another place.

3. (transitive) To forcibly obtain or produce.

   to exact revenge on someone.

Adverb

exact (comparative more exact, superlative most exact)

1. exactly

1. She's wearing the exact same sweater as I am!

Further reading

• exact in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• exact in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• exact at OneLook Dictionary Search

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɛɡ.zakt/

• Audio

  (file)

Adjective

exact (feminine singular exacte, masculine plural exacts, feminine plural exactes)

1. exact; precise

Further reading

• “exact” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Etymology

Borrowed from French exact.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /eɡˈzakt/

Adjective

exact m, n (feminine singular exactă, masculine plural exacți, feminine and neuter plural exacte)

1. exact, precise

Adverb

exact

1. exactly, precisely