PROBLEM


Meaning of PROBLEM in English

/ ˈprɒbləm; NAmE ˈprɑːb-/ noun , adjective

■ noun

1.

a thing that is difficult to deal with or to understand :

big / major / serious problems

health / family, etc. problems

financial / practical / technical problems

to address / tackle / solve a problem

( especially NAmE )

to fix a problem

the problem of drug abuse

If he chooses Mary it's bound to cause problems .

Let me know if you have any problems.

Most students face the problem of funding themselves while they are studying.

The problem first arose in 2003.

Unemployment is a very real problem for graduates now.

It's a nice table! The only problem is (that) it's too big for our room.

Stop worrying about their marriage—it isn't your problem.

There's no history of heart problems (= disease connected with the heart) in our family.

the magazine's problem page (= containing letters about readers' problems and advice about how to solve them)

2.

a question that can be answered by using logical thought or mathematics :

mathematical problems

to find the answer to the problem

IDIOMS

- have a problem with sth

- no problem

- it's / that's not my problem

- that's her / his / their / your problem

- what's your problem?

■ adjective

[ only before noun ] causing problems for other people :

She was a problem child , always in trouble with the police.

••

WORD ORIGIN

late Middle English (originally denoting a riddle or a question for academic discussion): from Old French probleme , via Latin from Greek problēma , from proballein put forth, from pro before + ballein to throw.

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.