option

op|tion [ `apʃən ] noun count ***

1. ) something that you can choose in a particular situation:

We've discussed all the marketing options and decided to go for television advertising.

option for: We have three different options for financing the house.

the option of doing something: You have the option of bicycling or taking the bus.

have no option but to do something: She had no option but to admit the truth.

a viable option (=one that is likely to succeed): Terrorist leaders concluded that armed resistance was no longer a viable option.

a ) an extra feature on a new product such as a car that you can choose to add when you buy it

b ) COMPUTING one of a range of things you can choose to do when you are using a computer program:

Choose the save option from the File menu.

2. ) BUSINESS the right to buy or sell something in the future, for example property or STOCK in a company:

stock options

option on: The airline has ordered 16 aircraft and has options on another 29.

the option to do something: If one partner dies, the others have the option to buy back their shares.

keep/leave your options open

to avoid making a decision now so that you will still have choices later

soft/easy option BRITISH

something that is easy to do but may not be the best thing to do