(~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
An ~ is something that you can choose to do in preference to one or more alternatives.
He’s argued from the start that America and its allies are putting too much emphasis on the military ~...
What other ~s do you have?
= alternative
N-COUNT
2.
If you have the ~ of doing something, you can choose whether to do it or not.
Criminals are given the ~ of going to jail or facing public humiliation...
We had no ~ but to abandon the meeting.
= choice
N-SING: oft N of n/-ing, N to-inf
3.
In business, an ~ is an agreement or contract that gives someone the right to buy or sell something such as property or shares at a future date. (BUSINESS)
Each bank has granted the other an ~ on 19.9% of its shares.
N-COUNT
4.
An ~ is one of a number of subjects which a student can choose to study as a part of his or her course.
Several ~s are offered for the student’s senior year.
N-COUNT
5.
If you keep your ~s open or leave your ~s open, you delay making a decision about something.
I am keeping my ~s open. I have not made a decision on either matter.
PHRASE: V inflects
6.
If you take the soft ~, you do the thing that is easiest or least likely to cause trouble in a particular situation. (mainly BRIT)
The job of chairman can no longer be regarded as a convenient soft ~.
PHRASE: N inflects