preference
pref|er|ence /pr'efərəns/ (preferences)
1 [N-VAR] usu N for n
If you have a preference for something, you would like to have or do that thing rather than something else.
Parents can express a preference for the school their child attends...
Many of these products were bought in preference to their own.
2 [N-UNCOUNT] usu N to n
If you give preference to someone with a particular qualification or feature, you choose them rather than someone else.
The Pentagon will give preference to companies which do business electronically.
= prioritypref|er|ence shares
[N-PLURAL]
Preference shares are shares in a company that are owned by people who have the right to receive part of the company's profits before the holders of ordinary shares are paid. They also have the right to have their capital repaid if the company fails and has to close. Compare ordinary shares. (BRIT BUSINESS; in AM use preferred stock)sex|ual pref|er|ence (sexual preferences)
[N-VAR] oft poss N
Someone's sexual preference is the same as their sexual orientation.
1 [N-VAR] usu N for n
If you have a preference for something, you would like to have or do that thing rather than something else.
Parents can express a preference for the school their child attends...
Many of these products were bought in preference to their own.
2 [N-UNCOUNT] usu N to n
If you give preference to someone with a particular qualification or feature, you choose them rather than someone else.
The Pentagon will give preference to companies which do business electronically.
= prioritypref|er|ence shares
[N-PLURAL]
Preference shares are shares in a company that are owned by people who have the right to receive part of the company's profits before the holders of ordinary shares are paid. They also have the right to have their capital repaid if the company fails and has to close. Compare ordinary shares. (BRIT BUSINESS; in AM use preferred stock)sex|ual pref|er|ence (sexual preferences)
[N-VAR] oft poss N
Someone's sexual preference is the same as their sexual orientation.