English Reference
noun · verb

store

n. · v.
US /ˈstɔɹ/ UK /stˈɔː/ store UK spelling stored, stores

  1. 01 A1 Beginner American English

    n.a place where you can buy goods or services.

    n.a retail establishment where merchandise is sold to customers.

    Simple

    I need to go to the grocery store to buy some milk and bread.

    In context

    The flagship store occupies three floors of the historic building, attracting thousands of tourists every weekend.

    Usage

    In British English, 'shop' is more common for small businesses, while 'store' often refers to large department stores.

  2. 02 B1 Intermediate

    n.a large amount of something that is kept for future use.

    n.a quantity of something kept available for use as needed.

    Simple

    The squirrels have a large store of nuts hidden for the winter.

    In context

    The library holds a vast store of information regarding the local history of the county.

    Usage

    Often used in the plural form 'stores' when referring to military or emergency supplies.

  3. 03 A2 Elementary

    v.to put something away in a safe place until you need it.

    v.to keep or accumulate something for future use, typically in a designated location.

    Simple

    You should store your winter clothes in boxes under the bed.

    In context

    The warehouse is designed to store perishable goods at a constant temperature to prevent spoilage.

  4. 04 B1 Intermediate Computing

    v.to keep information on a computer or a phone.

    v.to record or copy data into a computer's memory or onto a storage device.

    Simple

    The phone can store thousands of high-quality photos.

    In context

    The system is configured to store user preferences in a local database for faster access during future sessions.

Usage store energy · store carbon · store information


From Middle English store, stoure, storre, from Anglo-Norman stor, estore, estorr, estoer, and Old French estour, estor, from Latin īnstaurō.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin īnstaurō
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Very common
Updated