INDEX:
1. to provide something that is needed
2. to provide a service for a particular group of people
3. something that is provided
4. a company or country that supplies things to people
RELATED WORDS
see also
↑ GIVE
↑ AVAILABLE/NOT AVAILABLE
◆◆◆
1. to provide something that is needed
▷ provide /prəˈvaɪd/ [transitive verb]
if a person or organization provides something, they make it available for someone who needs it or wants it :
▪ Your bank should be able to provide financial advice.
provide something for somebody
▪ Free parking is provided for hotel guests.
▪ The university should provide more facilities for disabled students.
provide somebody with something
▪ The money will be used to provide the school with new computer equipment.
▷ supply /səˈplaɪ/ [transitive verb]
to provide things for people, especially regularly and over a long period of time :
supply something to somebody
▪ The company supplies fish to local shops and restaurants.
supply somebody with something
▪ The US government was accused of supplying the rebels with arms and equipment.
▷ fund /fʌnd/ [transitive verb]
to provide money for a person or organization so that they can do something :
▪ The museum is funded by the local authority.
▪ They suspect that the rebels are being funded by Western governments.
▷ offer /ˈɒfəʳǁˈɔːf-/ [transitive verb]
make something available to people if they want or need it, especially something that will be good for them, such as help, advice, or a chance to do something :
offer something to somebody
▪ The booklet offers practical advice to new parents.
offer somebody something
▪ The prison now offers inmates the chance to study and take exams.
offer something
▪ The shelter offers some protection from the icy winds.
▪ Sending goods by road offers greater speed and flexibility.
▷ equip /ɪˈkwɪp/ [transitive verb]
to provide a person, group, or organization with the things they need for a particular kind of activity or work :
equip somebody with something
▪ Police officers have been equipped with batons and riot shields in preparation for tonight’s match.
▪ We try to equip our students with the skills they will need in the world of work.
equipped [adjective]
▪ The ship is modern and very well equipped.
▪ This is one of the best equipped hospitals in the country.
▷ issue /ˈɪʃuː, ˈɪsjuːǁˈɪʃuː/ [transitive verb usually in passive]
if an organization or someone in an official position issues equipment, clothes, weapons etc, they provide these things because people need them :
issue somebody with something
▪ Police in Britain are not usually issued with guns.
▪ Visitors are issued with identity cards to wear inside the factory.
issue something to somebody
▪ Blankets and warm clothes will be issued to those who need them.
▷ lay on /ˌleɪ ˈɒn/ [transitive phrasal verb] British
to provide things such as food or entertainment, so that they are available when people want them :
lay on something
▪ I’ve asked the catering manager to lay on refreshments at the meeting.
be laid on
▪ Games and entertainment were laid on in the afternoon.
▷ fix somebody up with /ˌfɪks somebody ˈʌp wɪð/ [transitive phrasal verb] informal
to provide someone with something that they need, especially in an unexpected situation :
▪ Can you fix me up with a bed for the night?
▪ I took the car to a nearby garage, and they managed to fix me up with a new tyre.
2. to provide a service for a particular group of people
▷ cater for also cater to /ˈkeɪtəʳ fɔːʳ, ˈkeɪtəʳ tuː/ [transitive phrasal verb]
to provide services to a group of people, especially a group that has particular problems or particular needs :
▪ The hostel caters for single people who are unable to find affordable accommodation.
▪ The market now caters mainly to tourists.
be well catered for
▪ Children are well catered for at the Hotel Paradiso.
cater to somebody’s every need
▪ Cabin staff will cater to your every need.
▷ serve /sɜːʳv/ [transitive verb]
to provide a service for a very large group of people, especially those living in a particular area :
▪ He served the community for over thirty years as a head teacher.
▪ The new bus route will serve the villages to the west of York.
serve the needs of somebody
▪ The center was opened four months ago to serve the health needs of a low-income neighborhood.
▷ provide for /prəˈvaɪd fɔːʳ/ [transitive phrasal verb]
to provide a service for a particular group of people, especially one that they really need :
▪ The nursing home provides for all the needs of the elderly.
▪ Local authorities must provide for the education of all children with learning difficulties.
3. something that is provided
▷ supply /səˈplaɪ/ [singular noun]
a system of supplying things that people need, such as food or medicine :
supply of
▪ We need to improve the supply of food to the area affected by the floods.
▪ The steel industry depends on a regular supply of raw materials.
water/blood/electricity etc supply
▪ The patient suffered a sudden decrease in the blood supply to part of her brain.
▪ The drought is threatening the water supply in some areas.
▷ flow /fləʊ/ [singular noun]
a continuous supply of something, especially from one place to another :
▪ the flow of oil from the Middle East
▪ The civil war has severely disrupted the flow of humanitarian aid to the region.
▷ service /ˈsɜːʳvɪs, ˈsɜːʳvəs/ [countable noun]
an organization or system that provides something for people, or the product or help it provides :
▪ A private car service is available from the airport.
▪ Electrical service was cut off for up to five hours in some parts of the country yesterday.
provide/perform a service
▪ The business, if properly regulated, performs a useful service for lottery winners.
4. a company or country that supplies things to people
▷ supplier /səˈplaɪəʳ/ [countable noun]
a company or country that supplies things to people :
supplier of
▪ one of the world’s biggest suppliers of defense equipment
the main/major supplier
▪ The company is now the main supplier of educational software to schools.
▷ provider /prəˈvaɪdəʳ/ [countable noun]
a company or organization that provides a service for customers :
education/health/healthcare provider
▪ schools, colleges and other education providers
service provider
▪ The company is now one of the regions main Internet service providers.
provider of
▪ a leading provider of personal financial services