shop
♦♦ shop /ʃ'ɒp/ (shops shopping shopped)
1 [N-COUNT]
A shop is a building or part of a building where things are sold. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use store)
...health food shops.
...a record shop...
It's not available in the shops.
= store
2 [VERB] V prep/adv, V prep/adv, V
When you shop, you go to shops and buy things.
He always shopped at the Co-op.
...some advice that's worth bearing in mind when shopping for a new carpet.
...customers who shop once a week.
● shopper [N-COUNT]
...crowds of Christmas shoppers.
3 [N-COUNT] n N
You can refer to a place where a particular service is offered as a particular type of shop.
...the barber shop where Rodney sometimes had his hair cut.
...your local video shop.
4 [VERB] V n to n, be V-ed
If you shop someone, you report them to the police for doing something illegal. (BRIT INFORMAL)
His father was so disgusted to discover his son was dealing drugs he shopped him to police...
Fraudsters are often shopped by honest friends and neighbours.
5
see also shopping, chip shop, corner shop, corner shop, paper shop,
pawn shop, print shop, tea shop, tea shop, talking shop, thrift shop
6 [PHRASE] PHR after v
If something is happening all over the shop, it is happening in many different places or throughout a wide area. (BRIT INFORMAL)
This gave them the freedom to make trouble all over the shop without fear of retribution.
7 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you set up shop, you start a business.
He set up shop as an independent PR consultant...
8 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you say that people are talking shop, you mean that they are talking about their work, and this is boring for other people who do not do the same work.
If you hang around with colleagues all the time you just end up talking shop.bar|ber shop (barber shops)
in AM, also use barbershop
[N-COUNT]
A barber shop is a shop where a barber works.beau|ty shop (beauty shops)
[N-COUNT]
A beauty shop is the same as a beauty parlour. (AM)bet|ting shop (betting shops)
[N-COUNT]
A betting shop is a place where people can go to bet on something such as a horse race. (BRIT)
= bookie'sbot|tle shop (bottle shops)
[N-COUNT]
A bottle shop is a shop which sells wine, beer, and other alcoholic drinks. (AUSTRALIAN)char|ity shop (charity shops)
[N-COUNT]
A charity shop is a shop that sells used goods cheaply and gives its profits to a charity. (BRIT; in AM, use thrift shop)chip shop (chip shops)
[N-COUNT]
A chip shop is a shop which sells hot food such as fish and chips, fried chicken, sausages, and meat pies. The food is cooked in the shop and people take it away to eat at home or in the street. (BRIT)
= fish and chip shopclosed shop (closed shops)
[N-COUNT]
If a factory, shop, or other business is a closed shop, the employees must be members of a particular trade union. (BUSINESS)
...the trade union which they are required to join under the closed shop agreement.cof|fee shop (coffee shops)
also coffee-shop
[N-COUNT]
A coffee shop is a kind of restaurant that sells coffee, tea, cakes, and sometimes sandwiches and light meals.cor|ner shop (corner shops)
also corner-shop
[N-COUNT]
A corner shop is a small shop, usually on the corner of a street, that sells mainly food and household goods. (BRIT; in AM, use corner store)duty-free shop (duty-free shops)
[N-COUNT]
A duty-free shop is a shop, for example at an airport, where you can buy goods at a cheaper price than usual, because no tax is paid on them.pa|per shop (paper shops)
[N-COUNT]
A paper shop is a shop that sells newspapers and magazines, and also things such as tobacco, sweets, and cards. (BRIT)
= newsagentpawn shop (pawn shops)
also pawnshop
[N-COUNT]
A pawn shop is a pawnbroker's shop.print shop (print shops)
[N-COUNT]
A print shop is a small business which prints and copies things such as documents and cards for customers.sex shop (sex shops)
[N-COUNT]
A sex shop is a shop that sells products that are associated with sexual pleasure, for example magazines, videos, and special clothing or equipment.share shop (share shops)
[N-COUNT]
A share shop is a shop or Internet website where members of the public can buy shares in companies. (BUSINESS)shop around
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P for n
If you shop around, you go to different shops or companies in order to compare the prices and quality of goods or services before you decide to buy them.
Prices may vary so it's well worth shopping around before you buy...
He shopped around for a firm that would be flexible.shop as|sis|tant (shop assistants)
[N-COUNT]
A shop assistant is a person who works in a shop selling things to customers. (BRIT; in AM, use sales clerk)shop floor
also shop-floor; shopfloor
[N-SING] oft N n
The shop floor is used to refer to all the ordinary workers in a factory or the area where they work, especially in contrast to the people who are in charge. (BRIT)
Cost must be controlled, not just on the shop floor but in the boardroom too.shop front (shop fronts)
also shopfront
[N-COUNT]
A shop front is the outside part of a shop which faces the street, including the door and windows. (BRIT; in AM, use storefront)shop stew|ard (shop stewards)
[N-COUNT]
A shop steward is a trade union member who is elected by the other members in a factory or office to speak for them at official meetings. (BRIT)sweet shop (sweet shops)
also sweetshop
[N-COUNT] oft the N
A sweet shop is a small shop that sells sweets and cigarettes, and sometimes newspapers and magazines. (BRIT; in AM, use candy store)talk|ing shop (talking shops)
[N-COUNT]
If you say that a conference or a committee is just a talking shop, you disapprove of it because nothing is achieved as a result of what is discussed. (mainly BRIT)tea shop (tea shops)
also teashop
[N-COUNT; N-IN-NAMES]
A tea shop is a small restaurant where tea, coffee, cakes, sandwiches, and light meals are served. (BRIT)
= tea roomthrift shop (thrift shops)
[N-COUNT]
A thrift shop or thrift store is a shop that sells used goods cheaply and gives its profits to a charity. (AM; in BRIT, use charity shop)
1 [N-COUNT]
A shop is a building or part of a building where things are sold. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use store)
...health food shops.
...a record shop...
It's not available in the shops.
= store
2 [VERB] V prep/adv, V prep/adv, V
When you shop, you go to shops and buy things.
He always shopped at the Co-op.
...some advice that's worth bearing in mind when shopping for a new carpet.
...customers who shop once a week.
● shopper [N-COUNT]
...crowds of Christmas shoppers.
3 [N-COUNT] n N
You can refer to a place where a particular service is offered as a particular type of shop.
...the barber shop where Rodney sometimes had his hair cut.
...your local video shop.
4 [VERB] V n to n, be V-ed
If you shop someone, you report them to the police for doing something illegal. (BRIT INFORMAL)
His father was so disgusted to discover his son was dealing drugs he shopped him to police...
Fraudsters are often shopped by honest friends and neighbours.
5
see also shopping, chip shop, corner shop, corner shop, paper shop,
pawn shop, print shop, tea shop, tea shop, talking shop, thrift shop
6 [PHRASE] PHR after v
If something is happening all over the shop, it is happening in many different places or throughout a wide area. (BRIT INFORMAL)
This gave them the freedom to make trouble all over the shop without fear of retribution.
7 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you set up shop, you start a business.
He set up shop as an independent PR consultant...
8 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you say that people are talking shop, you mean that they are talking about their work, and this is boring for other people who do not do the same work.
If you hang around with colleagues all the time you just end up talking shop.bar|ber shop (barber shops)
in AM, also use barbershop
[N-COUNT]
A barber shop is a shop where a barber works.beau|ty shop (beauty shops)
[N-COUNT]
A beauty shop is the same as a beauty parlour. (AM)bet|ting shop (betting shops)
[N-COUNT]
A betting shop is a place where people can go to bet on something such as a horse race. (BRIT)
= bookie'sbot|tle shop (bottle shops)
[N-COUNT]
A bottle shop is a shop which sells wine, beer, and other alcoholic drinks. (AUSTRALIAN)char|ity shop (charity shops)
[N-COUNT]
A charity shop is a shop that sells used goods cheaply and gives its profits to a charity. (BRIT; in AM, use thrift shop)chip shop (chip shops)
[N-COUNT]
A chip shop is a shop which sells hot food such as fish and chips, fried chicken, sausages, and meat pies. The food is cooked in the shop and people take it away to eat at home or in the street. (BRIT)
= fish and chip shopclosed shop (closed shops)
[N-COUNT]
If a factory, shop, or other business is a closed shop, the employees must be members of a particular trade union. (BUSINESS)
...the trade union which they are required to join under the closed shop agreement.cof|fee shop (coffee shops)
also coffee-shop
[N-COUNT]
A coffee shop is a kind of restaurant that sells coffee, tea, cakes, and sometimes sandwiches and light meals.cor|ner shop (corner shops)
also corner-shop
[N-COUNT]
A corner shop is a small shop, usually on the corner of a street, that sells mainly food and household goods. (BRIT; in AM, use corner store)duty-free shop (duty-free shops)
[N-COUNT]
A duty-free shop is a shop, for example at an airport, where you can buy goods at a cheaper price than usual, because no tax is paid on them.pa|per shop (paper shops)
[N-COUNT]
A paper shop is a shop that sells newspapers and magazines, and also things such as tobacco, sweets, and cards. (BRIT)
= newsagentpawn shop (pawn shops)
also pawnshop
[N-COUNT]
A pawn shop is a pawnbroker's shop.print shop (print shops)
[N-COUNT]
A print shop is a small business which prints and copies things such as documents and cards for customers.sex shop (sex shops)
[N-COUNT]
A sex shop is a shop that sells products that are associated with sexual pleasure, for example magazines, videos, and special clothing or equipment.share shop (share shops)
[N-COUNT]
A share shop is a shop or Internet website where members of the public can buy shares in companies. (BUSINESS)shop around
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P for n
If you shop around, you go to different shops or companies in order to compare the prices and quality of goods or services before you decide to buy them.
Prices may vary so it's well worth shopping around before you buy...
He shopped around for a firm that would be flexible.shop as|sis|tant (shop assistants)
[N-COUNT]
A shop assistant is a person who works in a shop selling things to customers. (BRIT; in AM, use sales clerk)shop floor
also shop-floor; shopfloor
[N-SING] oft N n
The shop floor is used to refer to all the ordinary workers in a factory or the area where they work, especially in contrast to the people who are in charge. (BRIT)
Cost must be controlled, not just on the shop floor but in the boardroom too.shop front (shop fronts)
also shopfront
[N-COUNT]
A shop front is the outside part of a shop which faces the street, including the door and windows. (BRIT; in AM, use storefront)shop stew|ard (shop stewards)
[N-COUNT]
A shop steward is a trade union member who is elected by the other members in a factory or office to speak for them at official meetings. (BRIT)sweet shop (sweet shops)
also sweetshop
[N-COUNT] oft the N
A sweet shop is a small shop that sells sweets and cigarettes, and sometimes newspapers and magazines. (BRIT; in AM, use candy store)talk|ing shop (talking shops)
[N-COUNT]
If you say that a conference or a committee is just a talking shop, you disapprove of it because nothing is achieved as a result of what is discussed. (mainly BRIT)tea shop (tea shops)
also teashop
[N-COUNT; N-IN-NAMES]
A tea shop is a small restaurant where tea, coffee, cakes, sandwiches, and light meals are served. (BRIT)
= tea roomthrift shop (thrift shops)
[N-COUNT]
A thrift shop or thrift store is a shop that sells used goods cheaply and gives its profits to a charity. (AM; in BRIT, use charity shop)