store

store

I

store¹ S1 W1 /stɔː $ stɔːr/ noun [countable]
1.  SHOP a place where goods are sold to the public. In British English, a store is large and sells many different things, but in American English, a store can be large or small, and sell many things or only one type of thing. ⇨ shop:
    At Christmas the stores stay open late.
    shoe/clothing/grocery etc store American English (=one that sells one type of goods)
    She worked in a grocery store before going to college.
    go to the store American English (=go to a store that sells food)
    I need to go to the store for some milk. ⇨ chain store, department store, general store
2.  SUPPLY a supply of something that you keep to use later
    store of
    a store of wood
    fat stores in the body (=that your body keeps)
3.  PLACE TO KEEP THINGS a large building in which goods are kept so they can be used or sold later:
    a grain store
4. in store (for somebody) if something unexpected such as a surprise or problem is in store for someone, it is about to happen to them:
    There’s a real treat in store for you this Christmas!
    As we left, I wondered what the future held in store.
5.  MILITARY stores [plural]
  a. supplies of food and equipment that are used by an army, navy etc:
    medical stores
  b. the building or room in an army camp, ship etc where these are kept
6. set great/considerable etc store by something to consider something to be important:
    Patrick has never set much store by material things.

II

store² S3 W3 verb [transitive]1. to put things away and keep them until you need them
    store something away/up
    Squirrels are storing up nuts for the winter.
    Store the beans in an airtight jar.
2. to keep facts or information in your brain or a computer:
    Standard letters can be stored on floppy discs.
3. store up trouble/problems etc to behave in a way that will cause trouble for you later:
    Smokers may be storing up disease for their unborn children.
     

THESAURUS

   ▪ keep to leave something in one particular place so that you can find it easily: Where do you keep the scissors? | The keys are kept in my office.
   ▪ store to put things away and keep them until you need them: Villagers have begun storing wood for the winter.
   ▪ save to keep something so that you can use or enjoy it in the future: He had been saving the bottle of champagne for a special occasion. | We can save the rest of the pie for later.
   ▪ file to store papers or information in a particular order or a particular place: All the contracts are filed alphabetically.
   ▪ collect to get and keep objects of the same type because you think they are attractive or interesting: Kate collects old postcards.
   ▪ hold to keep something to be used when it is needed, especially something that many different people may need to use: Medical records are now usually held on computers.
   ▪ reserve formal to keep part of something for use at a later time during a process such as cooking: Reserve some of the chocolate so that you can use it for decorating the cake.
   ▪ hoard to keep large amounts of food, money etc because you think you may not be able to get them in the future – used when you do not approve of people doing this because it is not necessary or not fair to other people: People have been hoarding food and fuel in case there is another attack. | Rationing of basic food products was introduced to prevent hoarding.