(~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
The ~ of something is the reason for which it is made or done.
The ~ of the occasion was to raise money for medical supplies...
Various insurance schemes already exist for this ~.
...the use of nuclear energy for military ~s...
He was asked about casualties, but said it would serve no ~ to count bodies...
= aim
N-COUNT: with supp
2.
Your ~ is the thing that you want to achieve.
They might well be prepared to do you harm in order to achieve their ~...
His ~ was to make a profit by improving the company’s performance.
= aim, objective
N-COUNT: with poss
3.
Purpose is the feeling of having a definite aim and of being determined to achieve it.
The teachers are enthusiastic and have a sense of ~.
N-UNCOUNT
4.
see also cross-~s
5.
You use for all practical ~s or to all intents and ~s to suggest that a situation is not exactly as you describe it, but the effect is the same as if it were.
For all practical ~s the treaty has already ceased to exist...
= in effect
PHRASE: PHR with cl
6.
If you do something on ~, you do it intentionally.
Was it an accident or did David do it on ~?
= intentionally
PHRASE: PHR after v