26984 words

supply

15 definitions • 29 examples
1
to provide something that is wanted or needed, often in large quantities and over a long period of time:

Examples:

supply something to someone Three people have been arrested for supplying arms to the terrorists.
The company has supplied the royal family (= provided them with something they need) for years.
be supplied with At the beginning of termthe semester, students are supplied with a list of books that they are expected to read.
2
an amount of something that is available for use:

Examples:

supply of Whenever she goes out with her baby, she always takes a large supply of baby food with her.
In the capital, demand for cheap housing far outstrips supply (= what is provided).
3
food or other things necessary for living:

Examples:

The refugees are urgently in need of food and medical supplies.
4
an amount of something available:

Examples:

5
the system used for supplying gas, electricity, etc. to people:

Examples:

Someone has turned off the electricity supply.
6
If something is in short supply, there is little of it available:

Examples:

Strawberries are in short supply this summer.
7
to provide something that is needed or wanted, or to provide someone with what the person needs or wants:

Examples:

Fran Gebus supplied the recipe for these muffins.
The dam supplies San Francisco with water and power.
8
an amount of something that is available for use:

Examples:

[ U ] In New York, demand for housing far outstrips supply.
9

Examples:

supply sth to sb/sth They supply parts to the automotive industry.
We supply systems for clients on the Pacific rim.
10
to give something that is needed to someone or something:

Examples:

supply sb/sth with sth All employees are supplied with safety equipment.
They were not able to supply us with the relevant data.
11
an amount of something that is available for use:

Examples:

a supply of sth The world's supply of agricultural land is shrinking fast.
We do not have an unlimited supply of money available for this project.
Extensive mining has reduced the supplies of coal in the area.
a limited/unlimited supply
to ensure/boost/restrict the supply
Across the economy, it seems that demand for viable CEO candidates exceeds supply.
12
the act of providing something:

Examples:

They have been asked to tender for the supply of cleaning materials to all the company's offices.
13
the system used for supplying gas, electricity, etc. to customers:

Examples:

The energy storage system tops up the peak electricity supply.
14
food or other things that are necessary for living:

Examples:

The refugees are urgently in need of food and medical supplies.
15
things that are necessary for a particular purpose:

Examples:

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