(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
A ~ is a sum of money which is part of the full price of something, and which you pay when you agree to buy it.
A ?50 ~ is required when ordering, and the balance is due upon delivery.
= down payment
N-COUNT: usu sing
2.
A ~ is a sum of money which you pay when you start renting something. The money is returned to you if you do not damage what you have rented.
It is common to ask for the equivalent of a month’s rent as a ~.
N-COUNT: usu sing
3.
A ~ is a sum of money which is in a bank account or savings account, especially a sum which will be left there for some time.
N-COUNT
4.
A ~ is a sum of money which you have to pay if you want to be a candidate in a parliamentary or European election. The money is returned to you if you receive more than a certain percentage of the votes. (BRIT)
The Tory candidate lost his ~.
N-COUNT: oft poss N
5.
A ~ is an amount of a substance that has been left somewhere as a result of a chemical or geological process.
...underground ~s of gold and diamonds.
N-COUNT: usu with supp
6.
To ~ someone or something somewhere means to put them or leave them there.
Someone was seen ~ing a packet...
Fritz ~ed a glass and two bottles of beer in front of Wolfe...
= plant
VERB: V n, V n prep/adv
7.
If you ~ something somewhere, you put it where it will be safe until it is needed again.
You are advised to ~ valuables in the hotel safe.
VERB: V n prep/adv
8.
If you ~ a sum of money, you pay it into a bank account or savings account.
The customer has to ~ a minimum of ?100 monthly.
? withdraw
VERB: V n
9.
If a substance is ~ed somewhere, it is left there as a result of a chemical or geological process.
The phosphate was ~ed by the decay of marine microorganisms.
VERB: usu passive, be V-ed