supply
[verb]
Synonyms:
- provide, contribute, endow, equip, furnish, give, grant, produce, stock, yield
[noun]
Synonyms:
- store, cache, fund, hoard, quantity, reserve, source, stock
- usually plural: provisions, equipment, food, materials, necessities, rations, stores

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Related Words: fulfill, outfit, provision, accumulation, reserve, reservoir, stockpile, surplus, hoard

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. sup‧ply¹ S2 W2 /səˈplaɪ/ noun (plural supplies)
[Word Family: noun: supplier, supplies, supply; verb: supply]

1. AMOUNT AVAILABLE [countable] an amount of something that is available to be used
supply of
I’ve only got a week’s supply of tablets left.
plentiful/abundant/adequate etc supply
There was a plentiful supply of cheap labour.
The nation’s fuel supplies will not last forever.
To protect the food supply, the government ordered the slaughter of affected cattle. ⇒ money supply

2. NECESSARY THINGS supplies [plural] food, clothes, and things necessary for daily life or for a particular purpose, especially for a group of people over a period of time:
Supplies were brought in by air.
vital/essential/emergency supplies
trucks loaded with emergency supplies
medical/school/cleaning etc supplies
foreign aid used to buy medical supplies

3. gas/electricity/water etc supply a system that is used to supply gas etc:
the public water supply
If you fail to pay your bill, you run the risk of having your electricity supply cut off (=stopped).

4. ACT OF SUPPLYING [uncountable] when you supply something
supply of/to
The military government is trying to stop the supply of guns to the rebels.

5. supply ship/convoy/route etc a ship etc used for bringing or storing supplies
⇒ in short supply at short¹(5b)

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. supply² S3 W2 verb (past tense and past participle supplied, present participle supplying, third person singular supplies) [transitive]
[Word Family: noun: supplier, supplies, supply; verb: supply]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: soupleier, from Latin supplere 'to fill up, supplement, supply', from sub- 'up' + plere 'to fill']

1. to provide people with something that they need or want, especially regularly over a long period of time:
Paint for the project was supplied by the city.
supply somebody with something
An informer supplied the police with the names of those involved in the crime.
supply something to somebody
They were arrested for supplying drugs to street dealers.

2. be well/poorly/generously supplied with something to have a lot of something, a little of something etc:
The lounge was well supplied with ashtrays.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

supply
noun
I. sth that is supplied
ADJ. total It is impossible to measure the total supply of money in circulation.
endless, inexhaustible, infinite, limitless, never-ending, unending He has an endless supply of corny jokes.
abundant, bountiful, good, large, plentiful | adequate, ample, sufficient | inadequate, limited, small Hurry, as we only have a limited supply of these TVs in stock!
dwindling | constant, continuous, regular, steady | fresh The body needs a fresh supply of vitamin C every day.
ready, reliable the provision of a reliable supply of clean water to rural communities
domestic | air, blood, oxygen, etc. A clot in the brain cut off her blood supply.
food, milk, water, etc. | coal, electricity, energy, fuel, gas, oil, power, etc. Domestic coal supplies were more plentiful in the mid-1950s. Turn off the mains electricity supply.
mains | labour The farmers depend on a casual labour supply at harvest time.
money the country's problems with ballooning inflation and swelling money supply
VERB + SUPPLY have Make sure you have an adequate supply of brochures.
get, lay in, obtain, receive We should lay in a good supply of beer for the party.
produce, provide The studio produced a steady supply of good films.
ensure, maintain | cut off, disconnect, disrupt, stop The electricity company disconnected our supply for non-payment of a bill. The storm disrupted the town's power supply.
deplete, exhaust, use (up) By the end of the winter the supply of grain was severely depleted.
replenish, restore | increase | restrict, limit, reduce | exceed, outstrip Demand for top-quality programmers exceeds supply, leading to extortionate salaries.
SUPPLY + VERB increase | fall | exceed/meet demand Labour supply did not increase to meet demand.
SUPPLY + NOUN line, system the water supply system
contract
PREP. ~ of a supply of spare batteries
~ to to maintain an adequate water supply to the inner city areas
PHRASES be in short supply Food is in short supply following the flooding.
demand and supply/supply and demand laws of supply and demand
a fall/a shortfall in supply There will soon be a shortfall in supply of qualified young people.
an increase in supply 2 supplies amount of sth needed
ADJ. abundant, plentiful | limited, meagre | vital | emergency, relief | arms, food, medical, military, office The Red Cross flew emergency food supplies into the war zone.
VERB + SUPPLY bring (in/up), lay in, provide (sb/sth with) The money raised will provide vital medical supplies to refugee camps.
be/run out of, be/run short of | threaten Rebel action threatened relief supplies.
SUPPLY + VERB hold out, last | be depleted, be exhausted, run low/out/short
PREP. ~ of The injured climbers had only meagre supplies of water and peanuts to live off.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

supply
verb
ADV. amply, liberally, well | adequately Any room where gas is used must be adequately supplied with air.
poorly | generously, kindly a buffet supper, generously supplied by club members
readily | free (of charge)
VERB + SUPPLY agree to | refuse to | fail to | ask sb to Each applicant is asked to supply a portfolio of work at interview.
PREP. for goods supplied for private use
from The water was supplied from an eight-wheeled tanker.
to They were accused of supplying arms to the rebels.
with He refused to supply the police with information.
PHRASES a contract to supply sth, intent to supply (sb/sth) (law) He was charged with possession of drugs with intent to supply others.
keep sb/sth supplied with sth keeping the guests well supplied with champagne

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

supply

a good supply
In hot countries, always carry a good supply of water.
a plentiful/abundant supply formal
There was a plentiful supply of books and magazines to read.
an adequate supply
The larger cities usually have more modern health facilities and an adequate supply of medicines.
a constant/steady/regular supply
For dairy farming, a constant supply of lush grass is essential.
an endless/inexhaustible supply (=one that does not end, or seems not to end)
He has an endless supply of jokes.
a ready supply (=one that is easily available)
The early settlers also found a ready supply of flints in the chalk cliffs.
a small/limited supply
There is a limited supply of land for building.
a dwindling supply (=one that is getting smaller)
We cannot rely on the dwindling supplies of crude oil and natural gas.
a fresh supply
A fresh supply of fuel was needed.
use up/exhaust a supply
The diver had nearly used up his supply of oxygen.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

supply
verb
BAD: We shall supply you everything you need.
GOOD: We shall supply you with everything you need.

Usage Note:
supply sb with something : 'The workers are supplied with masks and special protective clothing.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

supply
̈ɪsəˈplaɪ
See: in short supply

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲