to legislate

  • 1legislate — UK US /ˈledʒɪsleɪt/ verb [I or T] LAW ► to make rules or laws relating to a particular activity: »We cannot legislate a charge on businesses outside the state. legislate for/on sth »The purpose of the Electronic Communications Bill was to… …

    Financial and business terms

  • 2legislate — leg·is·late / le jəs ˌlāt/ vb lat·ed, lat·ing vi: to perform the function of legislation; specif: to make or enact laws vt: to cause, create, provide, or bring about by legislation Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996 …

    Law dictionary

  • 3legislate — ► VERB 1) make or enact laws. 2) (legislate for/against) make provision for …

    English terms dictionary

  • 4Legislate — Leg is*late (l[e^]j [i^]s*l[=a]t), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Legislated} ( l[=a] t[e^]d); p. pr. & vb. n. {Legislating} ( l[=a] t[i^]ng).] [See {Legislator}.] To make or enact a law or laws. [1913 Webster] Solon, in legislating for the Athenians, had… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 5legislate — (v.) 1805, back formation from LEGISLATION (Cf. legislation), etc. Related: Legislated; legislating …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 6legislate — [lej′is lāt΄] vi. legislated, legislating [back form. < LEGISLATOR] to make or pass a law or laws vt. to cause to be, become, go, etc. by making laws …

    English World dictionary

  • 7legislate — le|gis|late [ˈledʒısleıt] v [I] [Date: 1700 1800; Origin: legislator] 1.) to make a law about something legislate on ▪ Only Parliament has the power to legislate on constitutional matters. legislate for/against ▪ The government has promised to… …

    Dictionary of contemporary English

  • 8legislate — UK [ˈledʒɪˌsleɪt] / US verb [intransitive] Word forms legislate : present tense I/you/we/they legislate he/she/it legislates present participle legislating past tense legislated past participle legislated to create a new law and have it… …

    English dictionary

  • 9legislate — leg|is|late [ ledʒı,sleıt ] verb intransitive or transitive 1. ) to control something by creating a law about it: You can t legislate civility. legislate for/against: a committee legislating against the sale of tobacco 2. ) to create a new law… …

    Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • 10legislate — [[t]le̱ʤɪsleɪt[/t]] legislates, legislating, legislated VERB When a government or state legislates, it passes a new law. [FORMAL] [V against/for/on n] Most member countries have already legislated against excessive overtime... [V to inf] You… …

    English dictionary