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quote

v. · n. · interj.
US //ˈkwoʊt// UK //kwˈəʊt// quote
  1. 1 to repeat words (v.)
    B1 Intermediate General-service

    to repeat the exact words that someone else said or wrote.

    to repeat or copy out a passage from a text or a statement by a person, typically with an acknowledgement of the source.

    Example

    The journalist decided to quote the president's speech in her article.

    Example

    The professor cautioned the students to quote their sources accurately to avoid any accusations of academic dishonesty.

    Usage

    Often takes a direct object or is followed by a 'that' clause.
  2. 2 to give a price (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to tell someone how much a piece of work will cost before you start.

    to state a fixed price for a specific task or service to be provided.

    Example

    The mechanic quoted me three hundred dollars to fix the car's brakes.

    Example

    The contractor quoted a competitive rate for the renovation, including the cost of all raw materials and labour.
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  1. 3 repeated words (n.)
    B1 Intermediate General-service

    a sentence or phrase that is taken from a book or speech and repeated.

    a passage or expression that is cited or repeated.

    Example

    My favourite quote is from a famous poem about the sea.

    Example

    The author opened every chapter with an inspirational quote from a different classical philosopher.
  2. 4 estimated price (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a document or statement that shows how much a job will cost.

    a formal statement setting out the estimated cost for a particular job or service.

    Example

    We asked three different companies for a quote before choosing a builder.

    Example

    After reviewing the initial quote, the board requested a more detailed breakdown of the projected expenses.
  3. 5 punctuation marks (n.)
    C1 Advanced Informal

    the marks (" ") used around words to show that someone is speaking.

    a shortened form of 'quotation mark'; the symbols used to enclose direct speech or a cited text.

    Example

    You need to put quotes around the dialogue in your story.

    Example

    The editor noted that the writer had used single quotes instead of double quotes for the protagonist's internal monologue.

    Teacher's tip

    In British English, these are more formally known as 'inverted commas'.
    • inverted commas
  4. 6 starting a citation (interj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    a word you say out loud to show you are about to repeat someone's exact words.

    used in spoken English to signal the beginning of a direct quotation.

    Example

    He said, quote, 'I will never go back there again,' and walked away.

    Example

    The speaker began by saying, quote, 'The future belongs to those who prepare for it today,' unquote.

    Usage

    Often paired with 'unquote' to mark the end of the cited speech.

Origin

From Middle English quoten, coten (“to mark (a book) with chapter numbers or marginal references”), from Old French coter, from Medieval Latin quotāre (“to distinguish by numbers, number chapters”), itself from Latin quotus (“which, what number (in sequence)”), from quot (“how many”) and related to quis (“who”). The sense developed via “to give as a reference, to cite as an authority” to “to copy out exact words” (since 1680); the business sense “to state the price of a commodity” (1866) revives the etymological meaning. The noun, in the sense of “quotation,” is attested from 1885; see also usage note, below.

Word family
Idioms1 entry

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