system
[noun]
Synonyms:
- method, practice, procedure, routine, technique
- arrangement, classification, organization, scheme, structure

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Contrasted words: disorganization, chaos
Related Words: aggregation, array, mesh, network, arrangement, disposition, scheme, setup, order, pattern, procedure, proceeding, process

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English Thesaurus: system, process, procedure, formula, deal with something, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

sys‧tem S1 W1 /ˈsɪstəm, ˈsɪstɪm/ noun
[Word Family: noun: system, systematization; verb: systematize; adverb: systematically; adjective: systematic]
[Date: 1600-1700; Language: Late Latin; Origin: systema, from Greek, from synistanai 'to combine', from syn- ( ⇒ syn-) + histanai 'to cause to stand']

1. RELATED PARTS [countable] a group of related parts that work together as a whole for a particular purpose:
an alarm system
a well-designed heating system
the digestive system
the railway system

2. METHOD [countable] an organized set of ideas, methods, or ways of working
system of/for doing something
We’ve got a good system for dealing with complaints from customers.
I don’t understand your filing system.
under a system
Under the present system, we do not have any flexibility.

3. COMPUTERS [countable] a group of computers that are connected to each other:
The system has crashed (=stopped working).

4. sb’s system someone’s body – used when you are talking about its medical or physical condition:
All this overeating is not good for my system.

5. all systems go used, sometimes humorously, to say that you are ready to do something or that something is ready to happen

6. the system the official rules and powerful organizations that restrict what you can do:
You can’t beat the system.

7. get something out of your system informal to do something that helps you get rid of unpleasant strong feelings:
I was furious, so I went for a run to get it out of my system.

8. ORDER [uncountable] the use of sensible and organized methods:
We need a bit more system in the way we organize our files.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

system
noun
I. set of ideas/rules for organizing sth
ADJ. current, existing looking to replace the existing system
modern | old-fashioned, outdated | traditional | standard | complex, complicated, elaborate, intricate, sophisticated | simple | comprehensive | coherent | effective, efficient | viable, workable | inefficient, wasteful | flexible | rigid | stable | foolproof | imperfect, perfect | unique | ad hoc | centralized, decentralized | closed, open a closed system with a rigidly defined set of choices
bureaucratic | hierarchical | authoritarian, oppressive, repressive | equitable, fair | corrupt, unjust | bankrupt The governor referred to a prison system that was bankrupt of compassion.
state The law applies to schools within the state system.
local government, parliamentary, political | electoral, voting | banking, economic, monetary | tax, taxation | educational, examination, school, university | court, judicial, justice, legal, penal, prison | benefit/benefits, national/social insurance, social security, welfare | care, health (care) | rail, railway, road, subway, transport | communication | warning | security | back-up, support | accounting, administrative | disciplinary | agricultural | commercial, market | cultural, social | grammatical, language | classification, classificatory, filing | belief, value | capitalist, caste, communist | multi-party, two-party | two-tier
VERB + SYSTEM build, create, design, develop, devise, set up | adopt, apply, implement, introduce implementing a new system of stock control
advocate | join | be part of They are all part of the corrupt system we need to change.
manage, operate, run | manipulate, play, use playing the legal system to his own advantage
organize How is the sytem organized?
adapt, change, transform | tinker with | improve, modernize, overhaul, refine, reform, reorganize, simplify, streamline, strengthen modernizing their judicial system
perfect | perpetuate perpetuating an unjust system
clog up a backlog of cases clogging up the system
destabilize, disrupt, undermine, weaken attempts to disrupt the rail system
dismantle | abandon, do away with, scrap | destroy, overthrow | replace | restore | criticize, fight, rebel against She spent her years at school fighting the system.
defend, support | beat, buck You can never beat the system!
bypass trying to bypass the bureaucratic system
blame It's not your fault?blame the system.
SYSTEM + VERB exist | be based on sth, rest on sth Every political system rests on certain fundamentals.
be aimed at sth, be geared to sth | allow sth, enable sth This system allows you to study at your own speed.
offer sth, provide sth | be in operation, be operational, function, work proving that the system works effectively
break down, collapse
PREP. in a/the ~ at another point in the transport system
under a/the ~ Under the new system, all children will be monitored by a senior social worker.
~ for devising an appropriate system for presenting the required information

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

system
II. group of things/parts that work together
ADJ. sophisticated | computer, computer-based, electronic, manual, mechanical | audio, sound, stereo | satellite | air-conditioning, alarm, electronic mail, exhaust, heating, life-support, phone, plumbing, public address, sprinkler, telephone, ventilation | river, road
VERB + SYSTEM build, create, develop | improve, streamline | install For this month only, installing the system is free.
SYSTEM + VERB function, operate, work | break down, fail The air-conditioning system failed.
PREP. in/with a/the ~ a fault in the sound system

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

system
III. the body, or parts of it that work together
ADJ. auditory, circulatory, digestive, immune, (central) nervous, reproductive, respiratory, sensory, visual
PREP. in a/the ~ a valve in the circulatory system
PHRASES a shock to the system Returning to work after a long break can be a terrible shock to the system.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

system
IV. workings of a computer
ADJ. advanced, powerful | interactive | online | compatible, incompatible | computer, PC | operating, operational | database, management, information | processing, recognition, retrieval an information retrieval system
server, software | parallel
VERB + SYSTEM install | boot up, reboot Just reboot the system and try again.
build, design, develop designing a voice recognition system
launch
SYSTEM + VERB run The system runs on this workstation.
crash, fail, go down The entire computer system went down.
SYSTEM + NOUN software
PREP. in a/the ~ faults in the data processing system

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

system

a heating system (=in a building)
We’re waiting for the heating system to be repaired.
an alarm/security system
A new alarm system has been installed.
an air-conditioning system
The building hasn’t got an air-conditioning system.
the rail/road system (=all the roads or railways in a country)
Traffic problems are made worse by the country’s inadequate road system.
sb’s digestive/reproductive/nervous system (=in someone’s body)
These vitamins are essential for a healthy nervous system.
sb’s immune system (=they system which keeps your body healthy)
Some drugs can damage the immune system.
install a system (=put it into a building)
Our security system is simple to install.
a system works
The air-conditioning system isn’t working.
a system fails/breaks down
If your immune system breaks down, you will be vulnerable to infections.
effective/efficient
It was a highly effective system of communication.
inefficient
He described the tax system as inefficient and unfair.
complex/complicated
The Australian health care system is extremely complex.
an elaborate system
The proposal has to get through an elaborate system of committees.
the current/existing system
The current system of taxation is unnecessarily complicated.
the political/legal/educational etc system
The country is rightly proud of its legal system.
the economic/banking system
There are fears that the whole banking system could collapse.
the health care system
The West should be helping these countries to develop modern health care systems.
develop a system (=create a new one)
The Environment Agency has developed a new national flood warning system.
introduce a system (=start to use it)
The government has introduced a system of student loans.
adopt a system (=decide to use it)
They decided to adopt the electoral system used in Britain.
use/run/operate a system
They use a system of grades to evaluate each hospital’s performance.
We operate a booking system.
a system operates/works (=exists and is used)
He tried to explain how the planning system operates.
a system works (=is successful)
The public needs to see that the complaints system works.
a system breaks down/fails
An alarm sounds a warning before the system breaks down.
a system collapses (=fails completely)
The European Exchange Rate system collapsed in the 1970s.
modernize/reform a system
We need to reform the electoral system.
a system of government/education/justice etc
Why was Britain so slow to develop a national system of education?

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

system an organized set of ideas, methods, actions etc that you use to do something:
the airport security system
the system for dealing with refugees
process a series of actions that are done in order to achieve a particular result:
the process of teaching children to read
Repeat the same process, until all the sugar has dissolved.
procedure the official or usually agreed way of doing something:
You must follow the normal complaints procedure.
Large companies have a standard procedure for informing new employees about conditions of work.
formula a method or set of principles that you use to solve a problem or make sure that something is successful:
The team are hoping to use the same winning formula that they used last season.
There is no magic formula for success (=a method that is certain to succeed).
deal with something to take the necessary action, especially in order to solve a problem:
We need to deal with problems like pollution and climate change.
I spend most of my day dealing with customer enquiries.
handle to deal with a problem or difficult situation by making particular decisions. Used especially when talking about how well or badly someone does this:
He handled the situation very well.
Most customers were happy with the way their complaints had been handled.
tackle to start to deal with a problem, especially one that is complicated:
We need to tackle the issue of drugs in schools.
The government is introducing new measures to tackle online crime.
see to/attend to somebody/something to deal with all the practical details of something that needs to be done or organized. Attend to is more formal than see to:
My son saw to all the funeral arrangements.
I have some business to attend to.
take care of something to do the work or make the arrangements that are necessary for something to happen. Used especially when you do this for someone else so that they do not have to worry about it:
My secretary takes care of all the paperwork.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

system
ˈsɪstɪm
See: public-address system

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲