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deal

n. countable
B1 Intermediate Oxford US //ˈdiɫ// UK //dˈiːl// deal Archaic General-service Informal Slang

n. an agreement between two or more people, usually about buying or selling something for a good price. It can also mean the way someone is treated in a situation.

n. an agreement or arrangement, especially in business, regarding the exchange of goods or services. Often used to describe the specific terms of treatment received by a party in a transaction or social contract.


SIMPLE

I got a great deal on my new car.

CONTEXTUAL

The two companies finally signed a deal to share their technology after months of difficult negotiations.

COMPLEX

While the initial merger seemed like a fair deal for the shareholders, the long-term implications for the workforce remained a point of significant contention during the board meeting.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

From Middle English del, dele, from Old English dǣl (“part, share, portion”), from Proto-West Germanic daili, from Proto-Germanic dailiz (“part, deal”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰ(h₁)-oy-lo- (“part, watershed”). Cognate with Scots dele (“part, portion”), West Frisian diel (“part, share”), Dutch deel (“part, share, portion”), German Teil (“part, portion, section”), Danish, Slovene, and Swedish del (“part”), Icelandic deila (“division, contention”), Gothic 𐌳𐌰𐌹𐌻𐍃 (dails, “portion”). Related to Old English dāl (“portion”). More at dole.

Etymology 2

From Middle English delen, from Old English dǣlan (“to divide, part”), from Proto-West Germanic dailijan, from Proto-Germanic dailijaną (“to divide, part, deal”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰail- (“part, watershed”). Cognates Cognate with West Frisian diele (“to divide, separate”), Dutch delen, German teilen, Swedish dela; and with Lithuanian dalinti (“divide”), Russian дели́ть (delítʹ).

Etymology 3

From Middle English dele (“plank”), from Middle Low German dele, from Old Saxon thili, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *þiljǭ (“plank, board”); cognate with Old English þille. Doublet of thill.

Usage

Commonly used with the verbs 'make', 'strike', or 'close'.

Pitfall

we made a deal about the pricewe made a deal on the priceWhen discussing the subject of a transaction, 'on' or 'for' are the standard prepositions used with this noun.

Idioms15 entries

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