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install

v. · n.
US //ˌɪnˈstɔɫ// UK //ɪnstˈɔːl// in·stall
  1. 1 equipment or software (v.)
    B1 Intermediate Computing

    to put a piece of equipment, furniture, or a computer program in place so it is ready to use.

    to set up or connect equipment, machinery, or software for operational use.

    Example

    The technician will come tomorrow to install the new washing machine.

    Example

    The IT department requires all employees to install the latest security patch before accessing the internal server from home.
  2. 2 formal position (v.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    to officially put someone into an important new job or position.

    to admit someone formally into an office, rank, or position of authority.

    Example

    The university will install the new president during a ceremony next month.

    Example

    The board of directors voted unanimously to install the interim CEO as the permanent head of the corporation.
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  1. 3 to settle in (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to settle yourself or someone else comfortably in a place.

    to establish or settle oneself or another person in a particular place or position.

    Example

    She installed herself in the most comfortable armchair with a hot cup of tea.

    Example

    After the long flight, he promptly installed his elderly parents in the guest suite and made sure they had everything they needed.
  2. 4 software setup (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal Computing

    the process of putting a new program onto a computer.

    the process or instance of installing a software application.

    Example

    The install took much longer than expected because the file was very large.

    Example

    The system administrator monitored the remote install to ensure that no registry errors occurred during the final configuration phase.
Origin

From Middle English installen, from Old French installer, from Medieval Latin īnstallō (“to install, put in place, establish”), from in- + stallum (“stall”), from Frankish stall (“stall, position, place”), from Proto-Germanic stallaz (“place, position”), from Proto-Indo-European stel-, stAlǝn-, *stAlǝm- (“stem, trunk”). Cognate with Old High German stal (“location, stall”), Old English steall (“position, stall”), Old English onstellan (“to institute, create, originate, establish, give the example of”), Middle High German anstalt (“institute”), German anstellen (“to conduct, employ”), German einstellen (“to set, adjust, position”), Dutch aanstellen (“to appoint, commission, institute”), Dutch instellen (“to set up, establish”). More at in, stall.

Word family

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