supply
1to furnish or provide (a person, establishment, place, etc.) with what is lacking or requisite: to supply someone clothing;to supply a community with electricity.
to furnish or provide (something wanting or requisite): to supply electricity to a community.
to make up, compensate for, or satisfy (a deficiency, loss, need, etc.): The TVA supplied the need for cheap electricity.
to fill or occupy as a substitute, as a vacancy, a pulpit, etc.: During the summer local clergymen will supply the pulpit.
to fill the place of another, especially the pulpit of a church, temporarily or as a substitute: Who will supply until the new minister arrives?
the act of supplying, furnishing, providing, satisfying, etc.: to begin the supply of household help.
something that is supplied: The storm cut off our water supply.
a quantity of something on hand or available, as for use; a stock or store: Did you see our new supply of shirts?
Usually supplies . a provision, stock, or store of food or other things necessary for maintenance: to lay in supplies for the winter.
Economics. the quantity of a commodity that is in the market and available for purchase or that is available for purchase at a particular price.
supplies, Military.
all items necessary for the equipment, maintenance, and operation of a military command, including food, clothing, arms, ammunition, fuel, materials, and machinery.
procurement, distribution, maintenance, and salvage of supplies.
a person who fills a vacancy or takes the place of another, especially temporarily.
supplies. Obsolete. reinforcement (def. 4).
Obsolete. aid.
Origin of supply
1Other words from supply
- sup·pli·er, noun
- un·sup·plied, adjective
- well-sup·plied, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for supply (1 of 2)
/ (səˈplaɪ) /
(tr often foll by with) to furnish with something that is required: to supply the community with good government
(tr; often foll by to or for) to make available or provide (something that is desired or lacking): to supply books to the library
(tr) to provide for adequately; make good; satisfy: who will supply their needs?
to serve as a substitute, usually temporary, in (another's position, etc): there are no clergymen to supply the pulpit
(tr) British to fill (a vacancy, position, etc)
the act of providing or something that is provided
(as modifier): a supply dump
(often plural) an amount available for use; stock
(plural) food, equipment, etc, needed for a campaign or trip
economics
willingness and ability to offer goods and services for sale
the amount of a commodity that producers are willing and able to offer for sale at a specified price: Compare demand (def. 9)
military
the management and disposal of food and equipment
(as modifier): supply routes
(often plural) a grant of money voted by a legislature for government expenses, esp those not covered by other revenues
(in Parliament and similar legislatures) the money voted annually for the expenses of the civil service and armed forces
a person who acts as a temporary substitute
(as modifier): a supply vicar
a source of electrical energy, gas, etc
obsolete aid or assistance
Origin of supply
1Derived forms of supply
- suppliable, adjective
- supplier, noun
British Dictionary definitions for supply (2 of 2)
supplely (ˈsʌpəlɪ)
/ (ˈsʌplɪ) /
in a supple manner
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Cultural definitions for supply
The amount of any given commodity available for sale at a given time.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Other Idioms and Phrases with supply
see in short supply.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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