(~s)
1.
An ~ is an announcement in a newspaper, on television, or on a poster about something such as a product, event, or job. (BRIT; in AM, use ad )
I saw an ~ for a job with a large engineering company...
= ad, ~isement
N-COUNT: oft N for n
2.
If you say that an example of something is an ~ for that thing in general, you mean that it shows how good that thing is. (BRIT)
This courtroom battle has been a poor ~ for English justice.
= ~isement
N-COUNT: usu a N for n
3.
You can use the ~s to refer to the interval in a commercial television programme, or between programmes, during which ~isements are shown. (BRIT INFORMAL; in AM, use commercial break )
After the ~s, the presenter tried to pretend that everything was back to normal.
= commercials
N-PLURAL: the N