store
n. · v.-
1 a shop (n.) A1 Beginner American Englisha place where you can buy goods or services.
a retail establishment where merchandise is sold to customers.
ExampleI need to go to the grocery store to buy some milk and bread.
ExampleThe flagship store occupies three floors of the historic building, attracting thousands of tourists every weekend.
UsageIn British English, 'shop' is more common for small businesses, while 'store' often refers to large department stores.
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2 a supply or collection (n.) B1 Intermediatea large amount of something that is kept for future use.
a quantity of something kept available for use as needed.
ExampleThe squirrels have a large store of nuts hidden for the winter.
ExampleThe library holds a vast store of information regarding the local history of the county.
UsageOften used in the plural form 'stores' when referring to military or emergency supplies.
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3 to keep for later (v.) A2 Elementaryto put something away in a safe place until you need it.
to keep or accumulate something for future use, typically in a designated location.
ExampleYou should store your winter clothes in boxes under the bed.
ExampleThe warehouse is designed to store perishable goods at a constant temperature to prevent spoilage.
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4 to save digital data (v.) B1 Intermediate Computingto keep information on a computer or a phone.
to record or copy data into a computer's memory or onto a storage device.
ExampleThe phone can store thousands of high-quality photos.
ExampleThe system is configured to store user preferences in a local database for faster access during future sessions.
From Middle English store, stoure, storre, from Anglo-Norman stor, estore, estorr, estoer, and Old French estour, estor, from Latin īnstaurō.