/ səˈplaɪ; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ C ] an amount of sth that is provided or available to be used :
The water supply is unsafe.
Supplies of food are almost exhausted.
We cannot guarantee adequate supplies of raw materials.
Books were in short supply (= there were not enough of them) .
2.
supplies [ pl. ] the things such as food, medicines, fuel, etc. that are needed by a group of people, for example an army or expedition :
Our supplies were running out.
a transport plane carrying food and medical supplies for refugees
3.
[ U ] the act of supplying sth :
The UN has agreed to allow the supply of emergency aid.
A stroke can disrupt the supply of oxygen to the brain.
The electricity supply (= the system supplying electricity) had been cut off.
■ verb
( sup·plies , sup·ply·ing , sup·plied , sup·plied ) [ vn ] supply sb/sth (with sth) | supply sth (to sb/sth) to provide sb/sth with sth that they need or want, especially in large quantities :
Foreign governments supplied arms to the rebels.
Foreign governments supplied the rebels with arms.
Local schools supply many of the volunteers.
foods supplying our daily vitamin needs
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French soupleer , from Latin supplere fill up, from sub- from below + plere fill. The early sense of the noun was assistance, relief (chiefly a Scots use).