(~s, ~ping, ~ped)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
A ~ is a building or part of a building where things are sold. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use store )
...health food ~s.
...a record ~...
It’s not available in the ~s.
= store
N-COUNT
2.
When you ~, you go to ~s and buy things.
He always ~ped at the Co-op.
...some advice that’s worth bearing in mind when ~ping for a new carpet.
...customers who ~ once a week.
VERB: V prep/adv, V prep/adv, V
~per (~pers)
...crowds of Christmas ~pers.
N-COUNT
3.
You can refer to a place where a particular service is offered as a particular type of ~.
...the barber ~ where Rodney sometimes had his hair cut.
...your local video ~.
N-COUNT: n N
4.
If you ~ someone, you report them to the police for doing something illegal. (BRIT INFORMAL)
His father was so disgusted to discover his son was dealing drugs he ~ped him to police...
Fraudsters are often ~ped by honest friends and neighbours.
VERB: V n to n, be V-ed
5.
see also ~ping , chip ~ , coffee ~ , corner ~ , paper ~ , pawn ~ , print ~ , sex ~ , tea ~ , talking ~ , thrift ~
6.
If something is happening all over the ~, it is happening in many different places or throughout a wide area. (BRIT INFORMAL)
This gave them the freedom to make trouble all over the ~ without fear of retribution.
PHRASE: PHR after v
7.
If you set up ~, you start a business.
He set up ~ as an independent PR consultant...
PHRASE: V inflects
8.
If you say that people are talking ~, you mean that they are talking about their work, and this is boring for other people who do not do the same work.
If you hang around with colleagues all the time you just end up talking ~.
PHRASE: V inflects