- supply
- sup|ply1 [ sə`plaı ] noun ***1. ) count an amount or quantity of something that is available to use:A limited oil supply has made gas prices rise.supply of: The falling leaves provide a good supply of nutrients to the soil.a constant/endless/steady/abundant supply: Aquarium fish need a constant supply of oxygen.2. ) supplies plural things such as food, medicine, and equipment that you need to live or to perform a particular activity:The trucks carried medicine and other supplies across the border.What kind of camping supplies will we need for the weekend?3. ) uncount the act or process of providing something that is needed:the supply of something to something: This muscle controls the supply of blood to the heart.stopping the supply of drugs to our childrena ) only before noun used for getting a supply of something to someone:a supply boat/truck/roadin short/limited supplyavailable only in small quantities, so that there is not enough:Electricity and telephones are in limited supply on the island.Food is likely to be in short supply until the strike is over.supplysup|ply 2 [ sə`plaı ] verb transitive ***to provide someone or something with something that they need or want:Mrs. Armstrong will supply the champagne for the party.Can you supply a list of the guests?Refugees lined up for water supplied by aid organizations.supply something to someone/something: Two huge generators supply power to farms in the area.supply someone/something with something: They revealed that he had supplied terrorist organizations with weapons.They used the money to supply the school with new textbooks.
Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.