noun , verb
■ noun / ˈɪmpɔːt; NAmE ˈɪmpɔːrt/
1.
[ C , usually pl. ] a product or service that is brought into one country from another :
food imports from abroad
OPP export
2.
[ U , pl. ] the act of bringing a product or service into one country from another :
The report calls for a ban on the import of hazardous waste.
import controls
an import licence
imports of oil
OPP export
3.
[ U ] ( formal ) importance :
matters of great import
4.
the ~ (of sth) [ sing. ] ( formal ) the meaning of sth, especially when it is not immediately clear :
It is difficult to understand the full import of this statement.
■ verb / ɪmˈpɔːt; NAmE ɪmˈpɔːrt/ [ vn ] import sth (from ... ) | import sth (into ... )
1.
to bring a product, a service, an idea, etc. into one country from another :
The country has to import most of its raw materials.
goods imported from Japan into the US
customs imported from the West
2.
( computing ) to get data from another program, changing its form so that the program you are using can read it
OPP export
► im·port·ation / ˌɪmpɔːˈteɪʃn; NAmE -pɔːrˈt-/ noun [ U , C ]
SYN import :
a ban on the importation of ivory
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in the sense signify ): from Latin importare bring in (in medieval Latin imply, mean, be of consequence), from in- in + portare carry.