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suit

n. · v.
US //ˈsut// UK //sˈuːt// suit
  1. 1 matching clothes (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a set of clothes made from the same fabric, usually including a jacket and trousers or a skirt.

    a set of garments of the same fabric and colour, typically consisting of a jacket and matching trousers or skirt, intended for formal or professional wear.

    Example

    He wore a dark blue suit and a white shirt to his job interview.

    Example

    The executive arrived at the gala wearing a bespoke charcoal suit that reflected his status within the firm.
  2. 2 legal case (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Formal Law

    a problem or claim that is brought to a court of law to be decided.

    a process instituted in a court of law for the recovery of a right or the redress of a wrong.

    Example

    The company faced a suit from a former employee regarding unpaid wages.

    Example

    The environmental group filed a civil suit against the corporation, alleging that the factory had knowingly contaminated the local water supply.
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  1. 3 playing cards (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    one of the four groups in a pack of cards: spades, hearts, diamonds, or clubs.

    any of the four sets into which a deck of playing cards is divided, each identified by a specific symbol.

    Example

    In this game, you must play a card of the same suit as the first player.

    Example

    The dealer noted that three players were holding cards from the same suit, significantly increasing the tension of the final round.
  2. 4 business person (n.)
    C1 Advanced Informal Slang

    a person who works in an office or as a boss, especially one you think is boring or only cares about money.

    a metonymic reference to a corporate executive or bureaucrat, often used with a pejorative connotation of conformity or lack of imagination.

    Example

    The creative team didn't want the suits from the head office telling them how to design the ad.

    Example

    The developers were frustrated when a group of suits from the marketing department vetoed the most innovative features of the software.
  3. 5 to be convenient (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to be convenient or acceptable for someone.

    to be convenient for or acceptable to a person; to satisfy a particular requirement or preference.

    Example

    We can meet at 10:00 AM if that time suits you.

    Example

    The proposed schedule suits the majority of the staff, though the night shift workers have requested a few minor adjustments.
  4. 6 to look good on (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to make someone look attractive because of the style or colour.

    to be aesthetically appropriate for a person's appearance or character.

    Example

    That bright green dress really suits you.

    Example

    The stylist suggested that the shorter haircut would suit her facial structure better than the long layers she currently had.
Origin

From Middle English sute, borrowed from Anglo-Norman suite and Old French sieute, siute (modern suite), originally a participle adjective from Vulgar Latin *sequita (for secūta), from Latin sequi (“to follow”), because the component garments "follow each other", i.e. are worn together. See also the doublet suite. Cognate with Italian seguire and Spanish seguir. Related to sue and segue.

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