system
♦♦♦ sys|tem /s'ɪstəm/ (systems)
1 [N-COUNT] usu with supp
A system is a way of working, organizing, or doing something which follows a fixed plan or set of rules. You can use system to refer to an organization or institution that is organized in this way.
...a flexible and relatively efficient filing system.
...a multi-party system of government...
2 [N-COUNT] usu supp N
A system is a set of devices powered by electricity, for example a computer or an alarm.
Viruses tend to be good at surviving when a computer system crashes.
3 [N-COUNT] usu supp N
A system is a set of equipment or parts such as water pipes or electrical wiring, which is used to supply water, heat, or electricity.
...a central heating system.
4 [N-COUNT] usu supp N
A system is a network of things that are linked together so that people or things can travel from one place to another or communicate.
...Australia's road and rail system.
...a news channel on a local cable system.
= network
5 [N-COUNT] usu supp N
Your system is your body's organs and other parts that together perform particular functions.
These gases would seriously damage the patient's respiratory system.
6 [N-COUNT] usu supp N
A system is a particular set of rules, especially in mathematics or science, which is used to count or measure things.
...the decimal system of metric weights and measures.
7 [N-SING] the N
People sometimes refer to the government or administration of a country as the system.
These feelings are likely to make people attempt to overthrow the system...
8
see also central nervous system, digestive system, immune system, immune system, metric system,
nervous system, public address system, sound system, sound system
9 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you get something out of your system, you take some action so that you no longer want to do it or no longer have strong feelings about it.
I want to get boxing out of my system and settle down to enjoy family life.be|lief sys|tem (belief systems)
[N-COUNT] oft with poss
The belief system of a person or society is the set of beliefs that they have about what is right and wrong and what is true and false.
...the belief systems of various ethnic groups.cen|tral nerv|ous sys|tem (central nervous systems)
[N-COUNT]
Your central nervous system is the part of your nervous system that consists of the brain and spinal cord.di|ges|tive sys|tem (digestive systems)
[N-COUNT] usu poss N
Your digestive system is the set of organs in your body that digest the food you eat.glob|al po|si|tion|ing sys|tem (global positioning systems)
[N-COUNT]
A global positioning system is a system that uses signals from satellites to find out the position of an object. The abbreviation GPS is also used.guid|ance sys|tem (guidance systems)
[N-COUNT]
The guidance system of a missile or rocket is the device which controls its course.
The guidance systems didn't work and the missile couldn't hit its target.im|mune sys|tem (immune systems)
[N-COUNT] usu sing
Your immune system consists of all the organs and processes in your body which protect you from illness and infection.life-support sys|tem (life-support systems)
[N-COUNT]
A life-support system is the same as a life-support machine.met|ric sys|tem
[N-SING] the N
The metric system is the system of measurement that uses metres, grams, and litres.nerv|ous sys|tem (nervous systems)
[N-COUNT]
Your nervous system consists of all the nerves in your body together with your brain and spinal cord.op|er|at|ing sys|tem (operating systems)
[N-COUNT]
The operating system of a computer is its most basic program, which it needs in order to function and run other programs. (COMPUTING)pub|lic ad|dress sys|tem (public address systems)
[N-COUNT]
A public address system is a set of electrical equipment which allows someone's voice, or music, to be heard throughout a large building or area. The abbreviation PA is also used.short mes|sage sys|tem (short message systems)
also short message service
[N-COUNT]
A short message system is a way of sending short written messages from one mobile phone to another. The abbreviation SMS is also used.so|lar sys|tem (solar systems)
[N-COUNT] usu sing, oft the N, poss N
The solar system is the sun and all the planets that go round it.sound sys|tem (sound systems)
[N-COUNT]
A sound system is a set of equipment for playing recorded music, or for making a band's music able to be heard by everyone at a concert.value sys|tem (value systems)
[N-COUNT]
The value system of a group of people is the set of beliefs and attitudes that they all share.
1 [N-COUNT] usu with supp
A system is a way of working, organizing, or doing something which follows a fixed plan or set of rules. You can use system to refer to an organization or institution that is organized in this way.
...a flexible and relatively efficient filing system.
...a multi-party system of government...
2 [N-COUNT] usu supp N
A system is a set of devices powered by electricity, for example a computer or an alarm.
Viruses tend to be good at surviving when a computer system crashes.
3 [N-COUNT] usu supp N
A system is a set of equipment or parts such as water pipes or electrical wiring, which is used to supply water, heat, or electricity.
...a central heating system.
4 [N-COUNT] usu supp N
A system is a network of things that are linked together so that people or things can travel from one place to another or communicate.
...Australia's road and rail system.
...a news channel on a local cable system.
= network
5 [N-COUNT] usu supp N
Your system is your body's organs and other parts that together perform particular functions.
These gases would seriously damage the patient's respiratory system.
6 [N-COUNT] usu supp N
A system is a particular set of rules, especially in mathematics or science, which is used to count or measure things.
...the decimal system of metric weights and measures.
7 [N-SING] the N
People sometimes refer to the government or administration of a country as the system.
These feelings are likely to make people attempt to overthrow the system...
8
see also central nervous system, digestive system, immune system, immune system, metric system,
nervous system, public address system, sound system, sound system
9 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you get something out of your system, you take some action so that you no longer want to do it or no longer have strong feelings about it.
I want to get boxing out of my system and settle down to enjoy family life.be|lief sys|tem (belief systems)
[N-COUNT] oft with poss
The belief system of a person or society is the set of beliefs that they have about what is right and wrong and what is true and false.
...the belief systems of various ethnic groups.cen|tral nerv|ous sys|tem (central nervous systems)
[N-COUNT]
Your central nervous system is the part of your nervous system that consists of the brain and spinal cord.di|ges|tive sys|tem (digestive systems)
[N-COUNT] usu poss N
Your digestive system is the set of organs in your body that digest the food you eat.glob|al po|si|tion|ing sys|tem (global positioning systems)
[N-COUNT]
A global positioning system is a system that uses signals from satellites to find out the position of an object. The abbreviation GPS is also used.guid|ance sys|tem (guidance systems)
[N-COUNT]
The guidance system of a missile or rocket is the device which controls its course.
The guidance systems didn't work and the missile couldn't hit its target.im|mune sys|tem (immune systems)
[N-COUNT] usu sing
Your immune system consists of all the organs and processes in your body which protect you from illness and infection.life-support sys|tem (life-support systems)
[N-COUNT]
A life-support system is the same as a life-support machine.met|ric sys|tem
[N-SING] the N
The metric system is the system of measurement that uses metres, grams, and litres.nerv|ous sys|tem (nervous systems)
[N-COUNT]
Your nervous system consists of all the nerves in your body together with your brain and spinal cord.op|er|at|ing sys|tem (operating systems)
[N-COUNT]
The operating system of a computer is its most basic program, which it needs in order to function and run other programs. (COMPUTING)pub|lic ad|dress sys|tem (public address systems)
[N-COUNT]
A public address system is a set of electrical equipment which allows someone's voice, or music, to be heard throughout a large building or area. The abbreviation PA is also used.short mes|sage sys|tem (short message systems)
also short message service
[N-COUNT]
A short message system is a way of sending short written messages from one mobile phone to another. The abbreviation SMS is also used.so|lar sys|tem (solar systems)
[N-COUNT] usu sing, oft the N, poss N
The solar system is the sun and all the planets that go round it.sound sys|tem (sound systems)
[N-COUNT]
A sound system is a set of equipment for playing recorded music, or for making a band's music able to be heard by everyone at a concert.value sys|tem (value systems)
[N-COUNT]
The value system of a group of people is the set of beliefs and attitudes that they all share.