I. ˈstō(ə)r, ˈstȯ(ə)r, -ōə, -ȯ(ə) verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English storen, from Old French estorer to construct, restore, store, from Latin instaurare to renew, restore, perform, from in- in- (II) + -staurare (from a base akin to Greek stauros pole, stake) — more at steer
transitive verb
1. : furnish , provide , supply , fill
bins stored with grain
his head was stored with chaotic but vivid impressions — Frances Gaither
especially : to stock or furnish against a future time
store a ship with provisions
2. : to collect as a reserved supply : lay away : accumulate
store vegetables for winter use
energy from the sun may be stored in the form of fat as well as carbohydrates … and proteins — R.E.Coker
energy stored in a condenser can be computed — W.H.Timbie & Vannevar Bush
— often used with up or away
build dams to store up water — R.W.Murray
memories stored away
3.
a. : to leave or deposit in a store, warehouse, or other place for keeping, preservation, or disposal : cache , stow
potatoes stored in a basement
in the early days of the passenger car it was almost unheard of to store it on the street — J.C.Ingraham
the center mall is often used to store snow plowed from the pavement in winter months — A.G.Bruce & John Clarkeson
honey stored in hives
b. : to record (information) in an electronic device (as a computer) from which the data can be obtained as needed
4. : to have space for : provide storage room for : hold
elevators to store surplus wheat
intransitive verb
1. : to take on or store away supplies
ships storing in the harbor
2. : to undergo storing especially without spoilage
foods should store well at room temperatures or in the refrigerator — Callie Coons
an egg that will store 60 percent longer — Springfield (Massachusetts) Daily News
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English stor, from Old French estor, from estorer
1.
a. : something that is stored or kept for future use
store for ten days
through all his active years he drew heavily on his physical store — W.A.Slade
b. stores plural : articles (as of food) accumulated for some specific object and issued or drawn upon as needed : stock , supplies
issue stores upon proper written authority
charged with payment for the coal, oil and other consumable stores — Railway Gazette
over 700 lb. of stores — oxygen, tents, food, fuel, cookers, climbing gear — must be lifted — John Hunt & Edmund Hillary
c. : something accumulated or amassed : a source from which things may be drawn as needed : a reserve fund
a store of provisions
a store of sound advice — R.A.Billington
their dwindling store of undergraduate days — Dartmouth Alumni Magazine
— often used in plural
continued education … will provide increasing stores of information — C.W.Eliot
2.
a. obsolete : livestock
b. Britain : a young or unfinished meat animal suitable for growing on and fattening
3. archaic : possessions
4. : storage — usually used with in or out of
fresh fruits and vegetables, whether in transit or in store — Fruit & Vegetable Storage & Pre-packaging
when placing eggs in store — Dublin Sunday Independent
our furniture, out of store last week — Mary Shaw
5. : something that is highly valued or greatly relied upon : treasure — used with set or lay or put
setting a great store on precedent — E.M.Coulter
such schedules did not set light store on life and property — H.O.Taylor
her mother set such store by the terrarium — Jean Stafford
lay great store by tradition
readers, who never put much store by the polite, personal essay — Time
6. stores plural : the raw or unworked material supplies of a manufacturing concern
7. : a large quantity, supply, or number : abundance
intended to bake a store of brambles for you to take — G.W.Brace
8. : a place of deposit for goods especially in large quantities : storehouse , warehouse , magazine
meat store
rope store
explosives store
quartermaster's store
— see cold store
9.
a. : a business establishment where goods are kept for retail sale
grocery store
furniture store
especially : a retail establishment having a large diversified stock of goods
thoroughfares lined with modernized stores and up-to-date shops — American Guide Series: Pennsylvania
— see chain store , department store , retail store ; compare shop
b. stores plural but singular or plural in construction , Britain : a retail establishment often consisting of a number of departments
c. : a commercial establishment (as a bank, restaurant, or dry-cleaning shop)
stores and offices will be closed for the holiday
d. : a building, room, or suite of rooms occupied by or suitable for occupancy by a store
store for rent
several stores under construction
10. slang
a. : an establishment or setup used by swindlers as a front to gain the confidence of victims
b. : an establishment (as a carnival concession) employing shills or barkers to entice customers
11. : a space or compartment on a gameboard for the keeping of pieces when not in play
12. chiefly Britain : memory 6
•
- in store
III. adjective
1.
a. or stores : of, relating to, kept in, or used for a store
store barge
the stores trucks are due on the dock about the same time — Wirt Williams
b. : used for storing
fill the big red store crock with water at night — Flora Thompson
store jar
c. : purchased from a store as opposed to natural or homemade : commercial , manufactured, bought , ready-made
store clothes
store bread
store teeth
2. archaic : abundant , plentiful — used postpositively
ships thou hast store — Alexander Pope
3. Britain
a. : stock 3
b. : suitable for fattening
strolled past the pens of store cattle — Adrian Bell