supply1
[suh-plahy]
- to furnish or provide (a person, establishment, place, etc.) with what is lacking or requisite: to supply someone clothing; to supply a community with electricity.
- to furnish or provide (something wanting or requisite): to supply electricity to a community.
- to make up, compensate for, or satisfy (a deficiency, loss, need, etc.): The TVA supplied the need for cheap electricity.
- to fill or occupy as a substitute, as a vacancy, a pulpit, etc.: During the summer local clergymen will supply the pulpit.
- to fill the place of another, especially the pulpit of a church, temporarily or as a substitute: Who will supply until the new minister arrives?
- the act of supplying, furnishing, providing, satisfying, etc.: to begin the supply of household help.
- something that is supplied: The storm cut off our water supply.
- a quantity of something on hand or available, as for use; a stock or store: Did you see our new supply of shirts?
- Usually supplies. a provision, stock, or store of food or other things necessary for maintenance: to lay in supplies for the winter.
- Economics. the quantity of a commodity that is in the market and available for purchase or that is available for purchase at a particular price.
- supplies, Military.
- all items necessary for the equipment, maintenance, and operation of a military command, including food, clothing, arms, ammunition, fuel, materials, and machinery.
- procurement, distribution, maintenance, and salvage of supplies.
- a person who fills a vacancy or takes the place of another, especially temporarily.
- supplies. Obsolete. reinforcement(def 4).
- Obsolete. aid.
Origin of supply1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for supplied
Contemporary Examples
In the course of his confession, he supplied details that should only have been known to the killer.
The Mexican government announced it had decapitated the organization that supplied much of the heroin to Chicago.
The rebels used, among other weapons, TOW missiles recently supplied by the U.S. to Harakat Hazm.
In fact, the oil companies have supplied expensive water-filtering plants for the local communities.
It was Scottish imperial pursuits that supplied the capital needed for industry, all while concentrating wealth in fewer hands.
Historical Examples
"Let them be supplied with all that is heavy and weighty in the ship," said Sir Nigel.
The White CompanyArthur Conan Doyle
In the case of doughnuts, this material is supplied as an ingredient.
Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 4Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
"Ponce de Leon," supplied Dorcas Jane, proud that she could pronounce it.
The Trail BookMary Austin
The summer was devoted to the composition of Belshazzar, for which Jennens had supplied the libretto.
HandelEdward J. Dent
Wanhope cast about for the word, and Winver supplied it: "Pull out."
Quaint CourtshipsVarious
supply1
- (tr often foll by with) to furnish with something that is requiredto supply the community with good government
- (tr; often foll by to or for) to make available or provide (something that is desired or lacking)to supply books to the library
- (tr) to provide for adequately; make good; satisfywho will supply their needs?
- to serve as a substitute, usually temporary, in (another's position, etc)there are no clergymen to supply the pulpit
- (tr) British to fill (a vacancy, position, etc)
- the act of providing or something that is provided
- (as modifier)a supply dump
- (often plural) an amount available for use; stock
- (plural) food, equipment, etc, needed for a campaign or trip
- economics
- willingness and ability to offer goods and services for sale
- the amount of a commodity that producers are willing and able to offer for sale at a specified priceCompare demand (def. 9)
- military
- the management and disposal of food and equipment
- (as modifier)supply routes
- (often plural) a grant of money voted by a legislature for government expenses, esp those not covered by other revenues
- (in Parliament and similar legislatures) the money voted annually for the expenses of the civil service and armed forces
- a person who acts as a temporary substitute
- (as modifier)a supply vicar
- a source of electrical energy, gas, etc
- obsolete aid or assistance
Word Origin
C14: from Old French souppleier, from Latin supplēre to complete, from sub- up + plēre to fill
supply2
supplely (ˈsʌpəlɪ)
- in a supple manner
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for supplied
supply
v.
late 14c., "to help, support, maintain," also "fill up, make up for," from Old French supplier "fill up, make full," from Latin supplere "fill up, complete," from sub "up from below" + plere "to fill" (see pleio-). The meaning "furnish, provide" first recorded 1520s. Related: Supplied; supplying.
supply
n.
early 15c., "assistance, relief," from supply (v.). Meaning "quantity or amount of something provided" is attested from c.1600. In the political economy sense (corollary of demand) it dates from 1776. Supply-side in reference to economic policy is attested from 1976. Supplies "provisions" is from c.1650.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
supply
The amount of any given commodity available for sale at a given time.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Idioms and Phrases with supplied
supply
see in short supply.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.