n. & v.
n. 1 a building, room, etc., for the retail sale of goods or services (chemist's shop; betting-shop). 2 a place in which manufacture or repairing is done; a workshop (engineering-shop). 3 a profession, trade, business, etc., esp. as a subject of conversation (talk shop). 4 colloq. an institution, establishment, place of business, etc.
v. (shopped, shopping) 1 intr. a go to a shop or shops to buy goods. b US = window-shop. 2 tr. esp. Brit. sl. inform against (a criminal etc.). all over the shop colloq. 1 in disorder (scattered all over the shop). 2 in every place (looked for it all over the shop). 3 wildly (hitting out all over the shop). set up shop establish oneself in business etc. shop around look for the best bargain. shop assistant Brit. a person who serves customers in a shop. shop-boy (or -girl) an assistant in a shop. shop-floor workers in a factory etc. as distinct from management. shop-soiled 1 (of an article) soiled or faded by display in a shop. 2 (of a person, idea, etc.) grubby; tarnished; no longer fresh or new. shop steward a person elected by workers in a factory etc. to represent them in dealings with management. shop-window 1 a display window in a shop. 2 an opportunity for displaying skills, talents, etc. shop-worn = shop-soiled. shopless adj. shoppy adj.
[ ME f. AF & OF eschoppe booth f. MLG schoppe, OHG scopf porch ]