cli ‧ ent S2 W1 /ˈklaɪənt/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: Latin cliens ]
1 . someone who gets services or advice from a professional person, company, or organization SYN customer :
a meeting with an important client
2 . technical a computer on a ↑ network that receives information from a ↑ server (=large powerful computer)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + client
▪ new
Most firms are desperate for new clients.
▪ important
This is an important client and we do not want to lose her.
▪ a major client (=an important one)
Some of our major clients have not taken the news of the merger well.
▪ a potential/prospective client (=someone who might become a client)
Make sure potential clients know about all of your services.
▪ an existing client (=one that you already have)
We are very keen to keep our existing clients happy.
▪ a private client (=a person rather than a business)
There are more than 200 stockbroking firms eager to take on private clients.
▪ a business client
Competition for business clients between travel companies is keen.
▪ a corporate client (=a big company or a group of companies)
Our law firm represents numerous corporate clients.
■ verbs
▪ advise a client
The surveyor will advise his client on the value of the property.
▪ act for/on behalf of a client
The lawyer will write confirming that he agrees to act for his client.
▪ represent a client
Mead was a top attorney representing major corporate clients.
▪ deal with a client
They receive training to help them deal with difficult clients.
■ client + NOUN
▪ a client base (=all the people, companies etc that are your clients)
The company quickly expanded its client base in the US.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ customer someone who buys goods or services from a shop or company:
Customers were waiting for the shop to open.
|
The bank is one of our biggest customers.
▪ client someone who pays for a service from a professional person or company:
He has a meeting with one of his clients.
|
The company buys and sells shares on behalf of their clients
▪ shopper someone who goes to the shops looking for things to buy:
The streets were full of Christmas shoppers.
▪ guest someone who pays to stay in a hotel:
Guests must leave their rooms by 10 am.
▪ patron /ˈpeɪtrən/ formal a customer of a particular shop, restaurant or hotel – usually written on signs:
The notice said ‘Parking for Patrons Only’.
▪ patient someone who is getting medical treatment from a doctor, or in a hospital:
He is a patient of Dr Williams.
▪ consumer anyone who buys goods or uses services – used when considering these people as a group who have particular rights, needs, or behaviour:
Consumers are demanding more environmentally-friendly products.
|
the rights of the consumer
|
The law is designed to protect consumers who buy goods on the Internet.
▪ market the number of people who want to buy a product, or the type of people who want to buy it:
The market for organic food is growing all the time.
|
a magazine aimed at the youth market
▪ clientele /ˌkliːənˈtel $ ˌklaɪənˈtel, ˌkliː-/ formal the type of customers that a particular shop, restaurant etc gets:
The hotel has a very upmarket clientele.
|
They have a wealthy international clientele.