/ ˈprɒbləm; NAmE ˈprɑːb-/ noun , adjective
■ noun
1.
a thing that is difficult to deal with or to understand :
big / major / serious problems
health / family, etc. problems
financial / practical / technical problems
to address / tackle / solve a problem
( especially NAmE )
to fix a problem
the problem of drug abuse
If he chooses Mary it's bound to cause problems .
Let me know if you have any problems.
Most students face the problem of funding themselves while they are studying.
The problem first arose in 2003.
Unemployment is a very real problem for graduates now.
It's a nice table! The only problem is (that) it's too big for our room.
Stop worrying about their marriage—it isn't your problem.
There's no history of heart problems (= disease connected with the heart) in our family.
the magazine's problem page (= containing letters about readers' problems and advice about how to solve them)
2.
a question that can be answered by using logical thought or mathematics :
mathematical problems
to find the answer to the problem
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IDIOMS
- have a problem with sth
- no problem
- it's / that's not my problem
- that's her / his / their / your problem
- what's your problem?
■ adjective
[ only before noun ] causing problems for other people :
She was a problem child , always in trouble with the police.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (originally denoting a riddle or a question for academic discussion): from Old French probleme , via Latin from Greek problēma , from proballein put forth, from pro before + ballein to throw.