1. a statement (either spoken or written) that is made in reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation;
"I waited several days for his answer"
"he wrote replies to several of his critics"
2. a statement that solves a problem or explains how to solve the problem;
"they were trying to find a peaceful solution"
"the answers were in the back of the book"
"he computed the result to four decimal places"
3. the speech act of replying to a question
4. the principle pleading by the defendant in response to plaintiff's complaint; in criminal law it consists of the defendant's plea of `guilty' or `not guilty' (or nolo contendere); in civil law it must contain denials of all allegations in the plaintiff'