PURPOSE

(REASON) [noun] [C] - an intention or aim; a reasonThe purpose of the research is to try and and find out more about the causes of the disease.At the airport, the immigration office asked me what was the purpose of my visit to the US.The purpose of this organization is to help homeless people.His only purpose in life seems to be to enjoy himself.Her main/primary purpose in suing the newspaper for libel was to clear her name.I came to Brighton for/with the express purpose of seeing you.Letters whose sole purpose is to make a political viewpoint will not be published.She had the operation entirely for cosmetic purposes.Purpose can also mean determination or a feeling of having a reason for what you do.I've always admired her for her strength of purpose.He decided early in life what he wanted, and, thanks to his great determination and singleness of purpose, he succeeded in getting it.There seems to be a lack of purpose among the team at the moment.In 1956, he met his future wife, who transformed his life, giving him a sense of purpose and personal happiness.A purpose can also be a need.The firm has not yet managed to find new premises that are suitable for their purposes.The fabric I bought isn't exactly what I wanted, but it will serve my purposes (= fulfil my needs).If you do something on purpose, you do it intentionally, not accidentally.I'm sorry I broke the glass - I didn't do it on purpose.The college was the first purpose-built (= specially designed and originally built for a particular use) teacher training college in the country.