New International Business English Glossary – Cambridge University Press – ELT

http://www.cambridge.org/elt/nibe

attend to [someone/something] verb to deal with something or help someone

e-mail noun the system for using computers to send messages over the Internet, or a message or document sent using this system

memo noun a message or other information in writing sent by one person or department to another in the same business organization

proportion noun a part or share of the whole, or a compared number, amount or level

envelope noun a flat, usually square or rectangular, paper container for a letter

cc abbreviation for carbon copy (= used, esp. on a letter, to show that the stated people will be sent a copy)

catalogue UK catalog US noun a book with a list of all the goods that you can buy from a shop, or of all the books, paintings, etc that exist in a place

concise adjective short and clear; expressing what needs to be said without unnecessary words

courteous adjective polite and respectful; well-mannered

dot matrix printer noun A dot-matrix printer is a computer printer that forms letters, numbers and other symbols from dots

heading noun words written or printed at the top of a text as a title

house style noun a set of rules a company follows for such things as spelling and design in all the things it produces

letterhead noun the top part of a piece of writing paper where the name and address of a person or business is printed

logo noun a picture, pattern or way of writing its name that an organization uses as its symbol and puts on its products

pp used to show when someone has signed a document for a person who is not available to sign it

paragraph noun a short part of a text, consisting of one or more sentences and beginning on a new line. It usually deals with a single event, description, idea, etc.

recycle verb to collect and treat (rubbish) to produce useful materials which can be used again

manual noun a book which gives you practical instructions on how to do something or how to use something, such as a machine

additive noun a substance which is added to food in order to improve its taste or appearance or to preserve it

aroma noun a strong, usually pleasant smell

artificial adjective made by people, often as a copy of something natural

customer noun a person who buys goods or a service

extract verb to remove or take out (something)

irrelevant adjective not related to what is being discussed or considered and therefore of no importance

order form noun a printed form which a customer uses to request goods or a service

relevant adjective connected with what is happening or being discussed

sample noun a small amount of something which shows you, or which can be tested to show you, what the rest is or should be like

wavy adjective having a series of curves

assemble verb to join or bring (parts) together in a single group or place, or (of parts) to come together like this

agent noun a person who acts for or represents another

benefit noun a helpful or good effect, or something intended to help

come up to expectations If something does not come up to expectation(s) it is not as good as expected.

compile verb to collect (information) from a variety of places and arrange it in a book, report or list

contract noun a legal document that states and explains a formal agreement between two different people or groups, or the agreement itself

engineer noun a person whose job is to design or build machines, engines or electrical equipment, or things such as roads, railways or bridges, using scientific principles

feedback noun information or statements of opinion about something, such as a new product, that provide an idea of whether it is successful or liked

jeopardize verb to put a plan or system in danger of being harmed or damaged

long-standing adjective A long-standing activity or relationship has existed for a long time.

puzzled adjective confused and slightly worried because you cannot understand something

submit verb to give or offer (something) for a decision to be made by others

mobile phone nouna telephone which is connected to the telephone system by radio, rather than by a wire, and can therefore be used anywhere where its signals can be received

phone booth nouna place, often partly enclosed, in a public building where there is a telephone that the public can use

telephonist = switchboard operator nouna person whose job is to receive telephone calls and connect them to other numbers

batch nouna group of things or people dealt with at the same time or considered similar in type

courier nouna person who takes care of a group of people on holiday and shows them the most important things in the place they are visiting, or a person who carries important messages or documents for someone else

prototype nounthe first example of something, such as a machine or other industrial product, from which all later forms are developed

quote verbto give a price, esp. that will be charged for doing a piece of work

receipt noun Receipt is the act of receiving money or goods.

stick-on adjectiveSomething that is stick-on has glue or other similar substance on one side of it, so that it can fix to a surface.

subcontract verbto pay someone else to do part of (a job that you have agreed to do)

answering machine = answerphone nouna device connected to a telephone which answers calls automatically and records messages from callers

contact noun the act of speaking to someone, either personally, by telephone or radio, electronically or by writing to someone

head office nounthe most important office of an organization or company, or the people working there

striped adjectiveSomething that is striped has stripes on it.

subsidiary adjectiveless important than something else with which it is connected

freight noungoods, but not passengers, that are carried from one place to another, by ship, aircraft, train or truck, or the system of transporting these goods

dial verbto operate a telephone or make a telephone call to (someone) by pressing a particular series of numbered buttons, or moving a numbered disc, on the telephone

dispatch verbto send (esp. goods or a message) somewhere for a particular purpose

image nouna picture in the mind of what something or someone is like

quality control nounthe process of looking at goods when they are being produced to make certain that all the goods are of the intended standard

shipment nouna large amount of goods sent together to a place, or the act of sending them

staff nounthe group of people who work for an organization

trade fair nouna large gathering at which companies show and sell their products and try to increase their business

vegetarian nouna person who does not eat meat for health or religious reasons or because they want to avoid cruelty to animals

agent nouna person who acts for or represents another

confirm verbto make (an arrangement or meeting) certain, often by telephone or writing

connect verb(of a telephone operator) to make it possible for (someone) to speak to someone else by telephone

equipment nounEquipment is the set of necessary tools, clothing etc. for a particular purpose.

extension nounany of two or more telephones in the same house which share the same number, or any of a number of telephones connected to a switchboard in a large building such as an office

laboratory , informal lab noun a room or building with scientific equipment for doing scientific tests or for teaching science, or a place where chemicals or medicines are produced

literature nounprinted material published by a company which is intended to encourage people to buy that company's products or services

put [someone] through phrasal verbTo put a telephone caller through (to someone) is to connect them so that they can speak to that person.

switchboard nouna piece of equipment which is used to direct all the telephone calls made to and from a particular building or area

break down verbIf a machine or vehicle breaks down, it stops working.

non-smoking adjectivedescribes a place where people are not allowed to smoke, or a person who does not smoke

proposal nounA proposal is a suggestion, sometimes a written one

stuffy adjective(of a room or building) unpleasant because of a lack of fresh air

translate verbto change (words) into a different language

congress nouna large formal meeting of representatives from countries or societies at which ideas are discussed and information is exchanged

label nouna piece of paper or other material which is stuck on or joined to an object, telling you what the object is, how to use it, to whom it belongs or other information

afflict verbto make (someone or something) suffer physically or mentally

break noun a short period of rest, when food or drink is sometimes eaten.

frequent adjective happening often; common

improve verb to (cause something to) get better

physiotherapist noun A physiotherapist is someone who treats people using physiotherapy (= the treatment of stiffness, muscle weakness and pain in the body, esp. by rubbing and moving the sore parts)

card noun a small rectangular piece of stiff paper with information printed on it, esp. a person's job title, business address and telephone number

stand noun a small shop or stall or an area where products can be shown, usually outside or in a large public building, at which people can buy things or obtain information

discount noun a reduction in the usual price

procurement noun Procurement is the buying of supplies.

record verb to keep (information) for the future, by writing it down or storing it on a computer

rely on phrasal verb to depend on or trust (someone or something)

sales representative noun a sales representative (also sales rep) travels to different places trying to persuade people to buy the things their company produces.

summarize verb to express the most important facts or characteristics about (something) in a short and clear form

canteen noun a small place in a factory, office, etc. where food and meals are sold, often at a lower than usual price

complain verb to say that something is wrong or not satisfactory

concerning preposition about

display verb to arrange (something or a collection of things) so that they can be seen by the public

eyesight noun the ability to see

handle verb to operate or control (something which could be difficult or dangerous)

investigate verb to examine (a crime, problem, statement, etc.) carefully, esp. to discover the truth

bug noun a bacteria or a virus causing an illness that is usually not serious

old-fashioned adjective Something that is old-fashioned is not modern, and belongs to or is typical of a time in the past.

procedure noun a set of actions which is the accepted way of doing something

raise verb to cause to exist

recommend verb to suggest that (someone or something) would be good or suitable for a particular job or purpose, or to suggest that (a particular action) should be done

regular adjective existing or happening repeatedly in a fixed pattern, with equal or similar amounts of space or time between one and the next; even or frequent

Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) noun a painful medical condition which can cause damage to the hands, wrists, upper arms and backs of esp. people who use computers and other forms of keyboard

replace verb to take the place of (something) or put something or someone in the place of (something or someone else)

request noun an act of asking; a polite demand for something

screen noun a flat surface in a cinema or on a television or a computer system on which pictures or words are shown

symptom noun any feeling of illness or physical or mental change which is caused by a particular disease

union noun A (trade) union is an organization of workers from a particular profession (= type of work) or trade which represents and protects the rights of workers within that profession and has discussions with employers over such matters as pay and working conditions.

ventilate verb to cause fresh air to enter and move around an enclosed space

aim verb to intend

body noun the main part of a book, article, etc., or the main part of a large building

clarify verb to make something clear or easier to understand by giving more details or a simpler explanation

special adjective having a particular purpose

cover verb to do (someone else's job or duty) when they are absent

department noun any of the divisions or parts of esp. a school, university, business or government

personnel noun Personnel is the department of a company or organization that deals with its employees when they first join, when they need training or when they have any problems.

edit verb to prepare (a text or film) for printing or viewing by correcting mistakes and deciding what will be removed and what will be kept in, etc., or to be in charge of (the reports in a newspaper or magazine, etc.)

efficient adjective working or operating quickly and effectively in an organized way

examine verb to look at or consider (a person or thing) carefully and in detail in order to discover something about the person or thing

extended adjective longer than usual

grave adjective seriously bad

item noun something which is part of a list or group of things

overtime noun (time spent working) beyond the usual time needed or expected in a job

request noun an act of asking; a polite demand for something

result noun something that happens or exists because of something else

review verb to consider (something) in order to make changes to it, give an opinion on it or to study it

rough adjective fairly correct but not exact or detailed; approximate

select verb to choose (a small number of things), or to choose by making careful decisions

separate adjective existing or happening independently or in a different physical space

sheet noun a large thin flat esp. rectangular piece of something, esp. a piece of cloth used for sleeping on or a piece of paper

undertake verb to do or begin to do (something)

waste noun an unnecessary or wrong use of money, substances, time, energy, abilities, etc.

workforce noun the group of people who work in a company, industry, country etc.

bill noun a request for payment of money owed, or the piece of paper on which it is written

bonus noun an extra amount of money that is given to you as a present or reward in addition to the money you were expecting

dash noun a short horizontal line used to separate parts of sentences

deduct verb to take away (an amount or part) from a total

increase verb to become or make larger in amount or size

instead adverb rather than (something or someone);

invoice noun a list of items provided or work done together with their cost, for payment at a later time

lot noun a large amount or number (of something)

postpone verb to delay (an event), esp. arranging for it to happen at a later date or time

punctuation mark noun a mark that you add to a text to show the divisions between different parts of it

reduce verb to make less in size, amount, degree, importance, etc., or bring into a different, usually worse, state

afterthought noun an idea, thought or plan which was not originally intended but is thought of at a later time

apostrophe noun the sign (') used in writing to show that a letter or a number has been omitted, or before or after s to show possession

avoid verb to stay away from someone or something, or prevent something from happening or not allow yourself to do something

brackets noun either of two symbols put around a word, phrase or sentence in a piece of writing to show that what is between them should be considered as separate from the main part

carry out phrasal verbto perform or complete (a job or activity); to fulfil

colon noun the sign (:) used in writing esp. to introduce a list of things or a sentence or phrase taken from somewhere else

comma noun the , punctuation mark that is used in writing to separate parts of a sentence showing a slight pause, or to separate the various single items in a list

cost noun the amount of money needed to buy, do or make something

quotes noun Quotation marks (also quote marks, UK also inverted commas or informal quotes) are the pair of printed marks put at the beginning or end of a word or phrase to show that someone else has written or said it.

doubt noun (a feeling of) uncertainty about something, esp. about how good or true it is

exclamation mark noun the ! punctuation mark that is written immediately after an exclamation

factory noun a building or set of buildings where large amounts of goods are made using machines

full stop noun the . punctuation mark that is put at the end of a sentence, or at the end of a word that has been abbreviated

hyphen noun the - punctuation mark that joins two words together, or shows that a word has been divided into two parts at the end of one line and the beginning of the next

inverted commas noun the " " punctuation marks that are put around a word or phrase to show that someone else has written or said it

oblique noun An oblique (also slash or specialized solidus) is a sloping line often used for separating numbers or words.

parenthesis noun either of two marks ( ) put round a word, sentence, etc. in a piece of writing to show that what is inside them should be considered as separate from the main part

period = full stop noun the . punctuation mark that is put at the end of a sentence, or at the end of a word that has been abbreviated

primary adjective more important than anything else; main

productivity noun A company's or country's productivity is the rate at which it makes goods, and is usually judged in connection with the number of people and the amount of materials necessary to produce the goods.

question mark noun A question mark is a written or printed sign (?) that is put at the end of a phrase or sentence to show that it is a question.

quotation marks noun Quotation marks (also quote marks, Br also inverted commas or informal quotes) are the pair of printed mark put at the beginning or end of a word or phrase to show that someone else has written or said it.

salary noun a fixed amount of money agreed every year as pay for an employee, part of which, that is left once tax has been paid, is usually paid directly into his or her bank account every month

semicolon noun a sign (;) used in formal writing between two parts of a sentence, usually when each of the two parts could form grammatical sentences on their own

slash noun a sloping line used in printing or writing to separate letters or numbers.

stroke noun (esp. used in spoken English) an oblique (diagonal)

amount noun a collection or mass esp. of something which cannot be counted

branch noun a part of something larger

emerge verb to become known esp. as a result of consideration, examination or questioning

focus noun the main or central point of something, esp. of attention or interest

note [something] down phrasal verb to write something so that you do not forget it

order noun the way in which people or things are arranged in relation to one another or according to a particular characteristic

sequence noun a series of related things or events, or the order in which they follow each other

brainstorm verb (of a group of people) to suggest a lot of ideas for (a future activity) very quickly before considering some of them more carefully

session noun a period of time or meeting arranged for a particular activity

set noun a group of similar things or people that belong together in some way

spot verb to see or notice (someone or something) usually when it involves looking hard

topic noun a subject which is discussed, written about or studied

underestimate verb to fail to guess or understand the real cost, size, difficulty, etc. of (something), or to fail to understand how strong, skilful, intelligent or determined (someone, esp. a competitor) is

join verb to become a member of (an organization)

pension scheme noun a financial plan that allows you to receive money after you or your employer have paid money into it for a number of years.

trade union (also trades union, union, US labor union) noun an organization of workers in a particular industry, which represents them and aims to improve their pay and working conditions

aerospace adjective/noun producing or operating aircraft or spacecraft

beverage noun a drink of any type

chart noun information given in the form of a graph or diagram, often intended to show the information more clearly

electronics noun Electronics is the scientific study of electric current and the technology that uses it.

sector noun one of the areas into which the economic activity of a country is divided

supply verb to provide (something that is needed), or to provide something that is needed to (someone)

tertiary adjective When used of an industry, tertiary means providing a service, rather than being involved with obtaining the materials with which goods are made, or with the making of goods.

board noun the group of people who are responsible for controlling and organizing a company or organization

array noun a large group of things or people, esp. one which is attractive or causes admiration and often one which has been positioned in a particular way

asset noun a useful or valuable quality, skill or person, or a part of the usually valuable property of a person or organization which can be used for the payment of debts

branch office noun A branch is one of the offices or groups that form part of a large business organization.

civil engineering noun the planning and building of things not used for worship or war, such as roads, bridges and public buildings. The person who does this is a civil engineer.

cornerstone noun something of great importance which everything else depends on

corporation noun a large company or group of companies that is controlled together as a single organization

decade noun a period of ten years, esp. a period such as 1860 to 1869 or 1990 to 1999

fiscal year noun another word for financial year (= a period of twelve months (not always January to January) for which a business, government, etc. plans its management of money)

fledgling firm nounnew and not experienced business

found verb to bring (something) into existence

innovative adjective different and new

link noun a connection between two things

location noun a place, esp. one where something special is or where something happens

maintain verb to continue to have; keep in existence, or not allow to become less

milestone noun an important event in the development or history of something or in someone's life

numerous adjective many

railroad = railway noun a metal track on which trains run, or the whole system of such tracks, stations and trains

spearhead verb to lead, esp. some type of attack or course of action

turn of the century the time when one century ends and another begins

versatile adjective able to change easily from one activity to another or able to be used for many different purposes

zest noun enthusiasm, eagerness, energy and interest

abandon verb to leave a place, thing or person forever

abolish verb to end an activity or custom officially

assembly line noun an arrangement of machines and workers in a factory, in which each has a particular job which has to be completed before the next stage of production is started by another worker

in bulk in large amounts

component noun a part which combines with other parts to form something bigger

confine verb to limit (someone or something)

consign verb to send (something) to someone

oblivion noun the state of being completely forgotten

debt noun something, esp. money, which is owed to someone else, or the state of owing something

dishwasher noun a machine that washes and cleans dirty plates, cups, forks, etc.

encourage verb to strongly advise (someone) to do something or make (someone) believe they are able to do something, or to support (something) or make (something) more likely

expenses plural noun money spent while doing a job, which an employer will pay back

filing cabinet noun A filing cabinet is a set of large drawers for storing documents, letters, etc

-fold suffix having the stated number of parts, or multiplied by the stated number

rewarding adjective A job that is rewarding is one that gives a lot of satisfaction, but possibly not much money.

share noun the part of a larger amount, which has been divided between several people, that belongs to or is owed to or has to be done by a particular person

site noun a place where something is, was, or will be built, or where something happened, is happening, or will happen

manual adjective Manual labour/work is work which involves physical work rather than mental work.

accounts plural noun Accounts are records of the money a person or company spends and receives.

install verb to put (a large piece of equipment) in a place, esp. to put (a machine) in a place and connect it to the electricity/gas/water/etc. supply, so that it is ready for use

dealings plural noun If you have dealings with someone, you are involved in a personal or formal relationship with them.

collapse verb (of people and business) to suffer the sudden inability to continue or work correctly

concentric adjective (of circles and rings) having the same centre

counsellor noun someone who provides help and encouragement

get rid of phrasal verb To get rid of something unwanted is to remove it or throw it away.

corporation noun a large company or group of companies that is controlled together as a single organization

parking lot noun space for vehicles to be parked.

pyramid structure noun the structure of an organisation where there are fewer people at the top levels of them than there are at the bottom

scrutiny noun Scrutiny is the careful and detailed examination of something in order to obtain information about it.

staff turnover noun the rate at which employees leave a company and are replaced by new people.

subject someone to something phrasal verb to cause (someone or something) to experience something, esp. something unpleasant

available adjective able to be obtained, used, or reached

career noun a job for which you are trained and in which it is possible to advance during your working life, so that you get greater responsibility and earn more money

confidential adjective Something that is confidential is secret, often in a formal, business or military situation.

detail noun a single piece of information or fact about something, or the small features of something that you only notice when you look carefully

domestic adjective relating to a person's own country

exchange verb to change (something) for something else of a similar value or type

hostile adjective showing strong dislike; unfriendly

impatience noun annoyance and dissatisfaction at faults or because something is slow, or anxious eagerness to do something

polite adjective behaving in a way that is socially correct and shows awareness of and caring for other people's feelings

abroad adjective, adverb in or to a foreign country or countries

announce verb to state or make known, esp. publicly

battery noun a device that produces electricity to provide power for radios, cars, etc.

acquaintance noun An acquaintance is a person that you know but do not know very well and therefore do not consider truly a friend.

disabled adjective lacking one or more of the physical or mental abilities that most people have

economy noun the intentional saving of money or, less commonly, the saving of time, energy, words, etc.

line noun a range of similar things that are for sale

order book noun a book in which a company or shop keeps a record of customers' orders

outperform verb to do well in a particular job or activity compared to others of a similar type

plant noun machines used in industry, or a factory in which such machines are used

output noun an amount of something produced by a person, machine, factory, country, etc

quotation noun A quotation is the price that a person will charge to do a piece of work.

range noun a set of similar things

rationalize verb to make (a company, way of working, etc.) more effective, usually by combining or stopping particular activities, or (of a company, way of working, etc.) to become more effective in this way

redundant adjective (of a worker) having lost his or her job because the employer no longer needs or is able to pay them

shape noun (good) condition or state of health

share noun one of the equal parts into which the ownership of a company is divided and which can be bought by members of the public

shipping noun the sending of goods from one place to another, esp. by ship

short-range adjective Short-range means reaching a short distance or relating to a short time.

suppliers plural noun Suppliers are a company which sells something.

specifications plural noun details, esp. of the size, shape, etc. of something to be made

stock noun a supply of something for use or sale

substantial adjective large in size, value or importance

vehicle noun a machine usually with wheels and an engine which is used for transporting people or goods on land, particularly on roads

briefcase noun a usually flat rectangular case, used esp. for carrying business papers

bug noun a very small device fixed on to a telephone or hidden in a room that allows you to listen to what people are saying without them knowing

detector noun A detector is a device used for finding particular substances or things, or measuring their level.

disguise noun to give a new appearance to a person or thing, esp. in order to hide its true form

distributor noun A distributor is a person or company which supplies goods to the businesses which sell them.

eavesdrop verb to listen to someone's private conversation without them knowing

device noun an object or machine which has been invented to fulfil a particular purpose

exhibit verb to show (something) publicly

forthcoming adjective about to happen, happening soon

hands-on experience noun Someone who has hands-on experience of something has done or used it personally rather than just read or learned about it.

licence UK license US noun an official document which gives you permission to own, do or use something, usually after you have paid money and/or taken a test

interfere verb to involve yourself in matters which are connected with other people when your involvement is neither wanted nor helpful

mains plural noun UK The mains is the system of pipes or wires which carry water or electricity into a house, or the pipes which carry sewage away from a house.

warranty noun A warranty is a written promise by a company to repair or replace a product that develops a fault within a fixed period of time or do again a piece of work that is not satisfactory.

monitor noun a device with a screen on which words or pictures can be shown

part adjective some but not all of a thing

portable adjective (designed to be) light and small enough to be easily carried or moved

recharge verb to give (a battery) the ability to supply electricity again by connecting it to a piece of electrical equipment and filling it with electricity

rep = sales representative noun A sales representative (also sales rep) travels to different places trying to persuade people to buy the things their company produces.

scrambler noun A scrambler is an electronic device which scrambles radio or telephone messages.

showroom noun a large shop in which people are encouraged to look at the goods that are on sale before buying them

specify verb to state or describe clearly and exactly

volt noun the standard unit used to measure how strongly an electrical current is sent around an electrical system

workstation noun a keyboard and screen with which a person can use a computer system, or an area in an office, factory etc. where a single person works

anchor noun a heavy metal object, usually shaped like a cross with curved arms, on a strong rope or chain, which is dropped from a boat into the water to prevent the boat from moving away

container noun A container is also a very large standard-sized metal box used for transporting goods.

handbook noun a book which contains instructions or advice about how to do something or the most important and useful information about a subject

idealize verb To idealize someone or something is to think of or represent them as better than they are.

passage noun A passage is a journey, esp. over the sea.

pro forma (invoice) noun a list of items that have been ordered which is sent with their prices to a customer so that the items can be paid for before they are delivered

scenario noun a description of possible actions or events in the future

stainless steel noun a type of steel containing chromium which does not chemically react with air or water and does not change its colour

truck noun large vehicle used for transporting goods

unload verb to remove the contents of (something), esp. a load of goods from a vehicle, the bullets from a gun or the film from a camera

warehouse noun a large building for storing items before they are sold, used or sent out to shops, or a large shop selling a large number of a particular items at a cheap rate

annual adjective happening once every year, or relating to a period of one year

the brunt of the main force of (esp. something unpleasant)

brand name noun the name given to a particular product by the company that makes it

coupon noun a piece of paper which can be used to obtain something without paying for it or at a reduced price

credit card noun a small plastic card which can be used as a method of payment, the money being taken from you at a later time

bill noun esp. US a piece of paper money

downturn noun a reduction in the amount or success of something, such as a country's economic activity

slowdown noun a reduction in speed, activity or the rate that things are produced

eurocheque noun a cheque that can be used in particular banks or shops in Europe

increase verb to become or make larger in amount or size

interest noun money which is charged by a financial organization such as a bank to people who have borrowed from them, or the profit which is made on money invested in a financial organization

launch verb to begin (something such as a plan) or introduce (something new such as a product)

letter of credit noun a letter from a bank allowing the person who has it to take a particular amount of money from a bank in another country

list price noun The list price of a product is the price at which its maker suggests it should be sold.

marginal adjective very small in amount or effect

net noun left when there is nothing else to be subtracted

oblique adjective having a sloping direction, angle or position

slash noun A slash is also a sloping line used in printing or writing to separate letters or numbers.

pound noun the standard unit of money in the UK, Ireland and some other countries

prestige noun respect and admiration given to someone or something, usually because of a reputation for high quality, success or social influence

spreadsheet noun a computer program, used esp. in business, which allows you to do financial calculations and plans

string noun a series of related things or events

tax noun (an amount of) money paid to the government, usually a percentage of personal income or of the cost of goods or services bought

assess verb to judge or decide the amount, value, quality or importance of something

bad debt noun one that is not likely to be paid

disregard noun lack of consideration or respect for something

face value noun the value or price which is shown on, for example, a stamp, a coin or a bank note

owe verb to need to pay or give (something) to (someone) because they have lent money to you, or in exchange for something they have done for you

recover verb to get back something lost, esp. health, ability, possessions etc.

gross adjective, adverb (in) total

gross noun (a group of) 144

invoice noun a list of items provided or work done together with their cost, for payment at a later time

merchandise noun goods that are bought and sold

remittance noun A remittance is a sum of money which you send to someone.

inconsistent adjective (of a reason, idea, opinion etc.) not in agreement between parts of itself or with something else

irrevocable adjective impossible to change

particular adjective special or single; this and not any other

shipment noun a large amount of goods sent together to a place, or the act of sending them

stipulate verb to state exactly how (something) must be or must be done

enclose verb to send (something) in the same envelope or parcel as something else

liquidate verb to cause a business to close, so that its assets can be sold to pay its debts

rectify verb to correct or make right

damage verb to harm or spoil (something)

repair verb to put (something damaged, broken or not working correctly) back into good condition or make it work again; mend

cable noun a wire, covered by plastic, that carries electricity, telephone signals, etc

misunderstand verb to think you have understood someone or something when you have not

mix up noun a mistake that causes confusion

reel noun a round wheel-shaped object on which sewing thread, fishing wire, cinema film, etc. can be rolled, or the amount of thread, film, etc. stored on one of these

attorney US = lawyer noun someone whose job is to give advice to people about the law and speak for them in court, esp. Br a solicitor

clumsy adjective awkward in movement or manner

inefficient adjective not organized, skilled or able to work satisfactorily; not efficient

pressure noun Pressure is the things that happen to a person which can make them feel anxious and unhappy.

shortage noun If there is a shortage in a supply of something, there is not enough of it.

slip-up noun A slip-up is a mistake or something which goes wrong.

slip someone's mind If something slips your memory/mind you forget it.

solicitor UK noun a type of lawyer in Britain and Australia who is trained to give advice about the law and sometimes to represent people in court

threat noun a suggestion that something unpleasant will happen, esp. if a particular action or order is not followed

anticipate verb to imagine or expect that something will happen, sometimes taking action in preparation for it happening

inconvenience noun a state or an example of difficulties, problems or trouble, which often causes a delay or loss of comfort

database noun a large amount of information stored in a computer system in such a way that it can be easily looked at or changed

format noun a pattern, plan or arrangement

fuss noun a show of annoyance, anxiety, dissatisfaction or excitement, usually one which is greater than the situation deserves

graphics noun The pictures and symbols that you can produce with a computer are called (computer) graphics.

one-stop adjective One-stop activities involve stopping at a single place

utility noun the usefulness of something, esp. in a practical way

asap abbreviation for as soon as possible

fault noun a mistake, esp. something for which you are to blame, or (esp. in a person's character or a machine) a weakness or broken part

inadequate adjective too low in quality or too small in amount; not good enough

package noun an object or group of objects that have been wrapped up together in paper or cardboard; a small parcel

withhold verb to refuse to give (something) or to keep back (something)

A4 noun (paper) of a standard size used in Europe, measuring 21 centimetres x 29.7 centimetres

negative noun a piece of film from which a photograph can be produced, and in which light and dark areas appear the opposite way round to the way in which they appear in the photograph

refund noun an amount of money that is given back to you, especially because you are not happy with a product or service that you have bought

alloy noun a metal that is made by mixing two or more metals, or a metal and another substance

cost-effective adjective If an activity is cost-effective it is good value for the amount of money paid.

defect noun a fault, problem or lack in something or someone that spoils them or causes them not to work correctly

eliminate verb remove or take away

line manager noun one of the managers who are responsible for the most important activities of a large company, such as production

mass-produce verb If you mass-produce something, you make a lot of it in a factory where production consists of many simple stages each of which is performed repeatedly by a person or machine.

reject verb to refuse to accept, use or believe (something or someone)

belongings plural noun A person's belongings are the things that they own, esp. those which can be carried.

chain smoker noun A person who chain-smokes or is a chain-smoker smokes almost continuously, often lighting one cigarette from the end of the previous one.

connect verb (of two public transport vehicles) to make it possible for passengers to continue the next part of their journey easily by having the second method of transport leave soon after the first has arrived

gate noun the official door at an airport for people travelling on a particular aircraft

itinerary noun a detailed plan or route of a journey

platform noun UK A platform (US track) at a railway station is a long flat raised structure where people get on and off trains.

smooth adjectivehappening without any sudden changes, interruption, inconvenience or difficulty

traffic jam noun a large number of vehicles close together moving very slowly or unable to move

traveller's cheque noun UK A traveller's cheque/US traveler's check is a piece of paper that you buy from a bank or a travel company and that you can use as money or exchange for the local money of the country you visit. It is safer than ordinary money because it needs your signature before it can be used.

trolley noun a small vehicle with two or four wheels that is used for transporting large or heavy objects and is pushed or pulled by a person

buffet noun a meal where people serve themselves from a variety of types of usually cold food and often eat standing up

single room noun a room in a hotel for one person

twin bed noun A twin bed is one of a set of two beds which are each big enough for one person.

gallery noun a room or building which is used for showing works of art, sometimes so that they can be sold

back streets noun The back streets of a city or town are the older and poorer areas.

big name noun informal A big name is a famous or important person.

brief verb to give someone instructions or information about what they should do or say

lake noun a large area of water that is not salty, surrounded by land and not connected to the sea except by rivers or streams

politician noun A politician is a member of a government or law-making organization.

public transport noun a system of vehicles such as buses and trains which operate at regular times on fixed routes and are used by the public

personality noun a famous entertainer or sports player etc. who has an attractive, energetic character which makes them popular with the public

appetizer US noun a small amount of food eaten before a meal

dessert noun sweet food eaten at the end of a meal

entrée US noun the main dish of a meal, or at very formal meals, a small dish served just before the main part

exaggerate verb to make (something) seem larger, more important, better or worse than it really is

fudge noun a soft sweet made from sugar, butter and milk which often has flavouring added

jet lag noun the feeling of tiredness and confusion which people experience after making a long journey in an aircraft to a place where the time is different from the place they left

main course UK noun the largest or most important part of a meal in which there are different parts served separately

pie noun a round pastry container in which meat, vegetables or fruit are cooked and which might also be covered with pastry

pumpkin noun a large round vegetable with hard yellow or orange flesh

starter UK noun a small savoury dish served as the first part of a meal.

APEX abbreviation for Advance Purchase Excursion noun a system of cheap travel tickets which must be bought a particular number of days before travelling

fee noun an amount of money paid for a particular piece of work or for a particular right or service

full board when all your meals are provided at the hotel or rooms that you are paying to stay in

lecture noun a formal talk on a serious or specialist subject given to a group of people, esp. students

overhead projector (OHP) noun a device which makes images on a flat transparent sheet larger and shows them on a white screen or wall

refund noun an amount of money that is given back to you, especially because you are not happy with a product or service that you have bought

self-catering adjective, noun (of a holiday) having a kitchen so that you can cook meals for yourself rather than having them provided for you

seminar noun an occasion when a teacher or expert and a group of people meet to study and discuss something

simultaneous adjective happening or being done at exactly the same time

venue noun the place where a public event or meeting happens

balcony noun an area with a wall or bars around it that is joined to the outside wall of a building on an upper level

overlook verb to provide a view of, esp. from above

wheelchair noun a chair on wheels which people who are unable to walk use for moving around

compensate verb to pay (someone) money in exchange for something that has been lost or damaged or for some inconvenience

flap noun a piece of cloth or other material fixed along one edge, esp. used for covering or closing something

knock back phrasal verb to quickly drink something, especially a lot of alcohol

landing gear noun the set of wheels and other parts which support a plane when it is on the ground and make it possible to take off and land

leaflet noun a piece of paper, or sometimes several pieces of paper folded or fixed together like a book, which gives you information or advertises something

manifesto noun a written statement of the beliefs, aims and policies (= a set of ideas or plans) of a group of people, esp. a political party

screwdriver noun a tool for turning screws, consisting of a handle joined to a metal rod shaped at one end to fit in the cut in the top of the screw

sightseeing noun the visiting of interesting places, esp. by people on holiday

soak verb to make very wet, or (of liquid) to be absorbed in large amounts

brand noun a type of product made by a particular company

commercial noun an advertisement which is broadcast on television or radio

demand verb to ask for forcefully, in a way that shows that a refusal is not expected, or to need

design noun a pattern used to decorate something

distribute verb to share or give (something) out to several people, or to spread, scatter or supply (something) over an area

end user noun The end user of something is the person or organization that uses it rather than an organization which trades in it.

hire purchase noun a system of paying for something in which the buyer pays part of the cost immediately and then makes small regular payments until the debt is reduced to nothing

label noun a piece of paper or other material which is stuck on or joined to an object, telling you what the object is, how to use it, to whom it belongs or other information

opportunity noun an occasion or situation which makes it possible to do something that you want to do or have to do, or the possibility of doing something

outlet noun a shop that is one of many owned by a particular company and that sells the goods which the company has produced

PR = public relations noun Public relations ( PR) is the activity of keeping good relationships between an organization and the people outside it.

promote verb to encourage the popularity, sale, development or existence of (something)

publicity noun the activity of making certain that someone or something attracts a lot of interest or attention from many people, or the attention received as a result of this activity

taste noun a person's appreciation of and liking for particular things

threat noun a suggestion that something unpleasant will happen, esp. if a particular action or order is not followed

benefit noun a helpful or good effect, or something intended to help

cross-refer verb to direct (a reader) from one place in a book to another place in the same book

desire verb to want (something), esp. strongly

feature noun an esp. typical quality or important part

nostalgia noun a feeling of pleasure and sometimes slight sadness at the same time as you think about things that happened in the past

update verb to make (something) more modern or suitable for use now by adding new information or changing its design

brochure noun a type of small magazine that contains pictures and information on a product or a company

bubble gum noun chewing gum that you can blow into the shape of a bubble

comic adjective making you want to laugh; amusing

direct mail a way of selling a product, or trying to obtain money for charity, by writing to people to try and persuade them to buy the product or give money

liqueur noun a strong sweet alcoholic drink which is usually drunk in small amounts at the end of a meal

press release noun a public statement given to the press to publish if they wish

stand noun a small shop or stall or an area where products can be shown, usually outside or in a large public building, at which people can buy things or obtain information

word of mouth By word of mouth means in speech but not in writing.

break into [something] phrasal verb to suddenly begin to do something

probability noun The probability of something happening or being true is how likely it is that it will happen or be true.

predict verb to say that (an event or action) will happen in the future, esp. as a result of knowledge or experience

forecast noun a statement of what is judged likely to happen in the future, esp. in connection with a particular situation, or of the expected weather conditions

gloom noun feelings of hopelessness or great unhappiness; great pessimism

hospitality noun the food, drink and other comforts that an organization sometimes provides in order to keep its guests happy.

landscape noun a large area of countryside, esp. in relation to its appearance

misconception noun A misconception is an idea which is wrong that has been based on a failure to understand a situation.

package tour noun a holiday at a fixed price in which the travel company arranges your travel, hotels and sometimes meals for you

questionnaire noun a written list of questions that a number of people are asked to complete so that information can be collected

wilderness noun an area of land that has not been cultivated or had towns and roads built on it, esp. because it is difficult to live in as a result of its extremely cold or hot weather or bad earth

manure noun excrement from animals, esp. horses, which is spread on the land in order to make plants grow well

trend noun a general development or change in a situation or in the way that people are behaving

impact noun the force with which one thing hits another or with which two things hit each other

literature noun printed material published by a company which is intended to encourage people to buy that company's products or services

chair noun (the official position of) a person in charge of a meeting or organization, or a position in an official group, or the person in charge of or having an important position in a college or university department

designate verb to choose (someone) officially to do a particular job or to state officially that (something or a place) has a particular character

flexitime noun a system of working according to which people work a set number of hours within a fixed period of time, but can vary the time they start or finish work

full-time adjective, adverb Full-time work or education is done for the whole of a working week.

part-time adjective, adverb If you work part-time or do part-time work, you work for only some of the day or the week.

stipulate verb to state exactly how (something) must be or must be done

premise noun an idea or theory on which a statement or action is based

arise verb to happen

boundary noun a real or imagined line that marks the edge or limit of something

cautious adjective A cautious person takes care to avoid risks.

crockery noun cups, plates, bowls, etc., used to serve food and drink, esp. made of baked clay

cutlery noun knives, forks and spoons used for eating food

leak verb to allow (secret information) to become generally known

on the spot On the spot means at the place where an event is happening or has recently happened.

territory noun (an area of) esp. land or sea, which is considered as belonging to or connected with a particular country or person

verbal adjective spoken rather than written

adjourn verb to make a pause or rest during a formal meeting or trial

duration noun the length of time that something lasts

agenda noun a list of matters to be discussed at a meeting

majority noun the larger number or part of something

to and fro adverb in one direction and then in the opposite direction, a repeated number of times

vote verb to express your choice or opinion, esp. by officially marking a paper or by raising your hand or speaking in a meeting

buffet noun a meal where people serve themselves from a variety of types of usually cold food and often eat standing up

overdo verb to do, use or say (something) in a way that is too extreme

pro rata (of payments, pay increases, etc.) calculated according to a fixed rate

snack noun a smaller than usual meal or a small amount of food that is eaten between meals, often something produced specially for this purpose

wedding reception noun a party to celebrate the marriage ceremony of two people

haul noun the time taken for a journey or for something to happen

fax machine noun the device used to send and receive documents in electronic form along a telephone line

hard disk noun a magnetic device that is fixed inside a computer and stores a very large amount of information

assortment noun a group of different types of something

bubble noun a ball of air in a liquid or a delicate hollow sphere floating on top of a liquid or in the air

crucial adjective (of a decision or event in the future) extremely important

ingredient noun a food that is used with other foods in the preparation of a particular dish

microprocessor noun a part of a computer that controls its main operations

texture noun the quality of something that can be decided by touch; the degree to which something is rough or smooth, or soft or hard

assembly noun the process of putting together the parts of a machine or structure, or (specialized) the structure produced by this process

facility noun a place, esp. including buildings, where a particular activity happens

standby noun something which is always ready for use, esp. if a regular one fails

streamline verb to improve the effectiveness of (an organization such as a business or government), often by simplifying the way activities are performed

coat verb to cover (something) with a layer of a substance

drum noun a large tube-like container

beep verb to (cause to) make a short loud sound

disconnect verb to unfasten (something), esp. to break the connection between a supply of electricity, gas, water, etc. and a device or piece of equipment

feed verb to put (into), or supply, esp. continually

mode noun a way of operating, living or behaving

slot noun a long narrow hole, esp. one for putting coins into or for fitting a separate piece into

grind verb to make (something) into small pieces or a powder by pressing between hard surfaces

roast verb to cook (food) using dry heat in an oven or over a fire

acquire verb to obtain (something)

attitude noun a feeling or opinion about something or someone, or a way of behaving that is caused by this

cabin crew noun In an aircraft, the cabin crew/staff are the people whose job it is to take care of the passengers.

the dole noun informal the money that the government gives to people who are unemployed

slot noun an amount of time which is officially allowed for a single event in a planned order of activities or events

from scratch completely from the beginning

jump at phrasal verb To jump at something is to accept it eagerly.

recession noun a period when the economy of a country is not successful, business conditions are bad, industrial production and trade are at a low level and there is a lot of unemployment

recruit verb to persuade someone to become a new member of an organization, esp. the army

transition noun a change from one form or type to another, or the process by which this happens

volunteer noun a person who does something, esp. helps other people, willingly and without being forced or paid to do it

ageism noun treating people unfairly because of their age

alleviate verb to make something bad such as pain or problems less severe

aptitude noun Aptitude is natural ability or skill.

arbitrary adjective based on chance rather than being planned or based on reason

blanket adjective including or affecting everything, everyone, or all cases, in a large group or area

creed noun a set of beliefs which expresses a particular opinion and influences the way you live

criminology noun Criminology is the scientific study of crime and criminals

culprit noun someone who has done something wrong

CV UK noun = curriculum vitae: a short written description of your education, qualifications, previous employment and sometimes also your personal interests, which you send to an employer when you are trying to get a job

discriminate verb to treat a person or particular group of people differently, esp. in a worse way from the way in which you treat other people, because of their skin colour, religion, sex, etc.

dynamic adjective having a lot of ideas and enthusiasm; energetic and forceful

guilt noun a feeling of anxiety or unhappiness that you have because you have done something wrong, such as causing harm to another person

high-flyer noun someone who has a lot of ability and a strong desire to be successful and is therefore expected to achieve a lot

irrespective adjective without considering; not needing to allow for

lag verb to move or advance so slowly that you are behind other people or things

obsessed adjective unable to stop thinking about something; too interested in or very worried about something

oppress verb to make (a person) feel uncomfortable or anxious, and sometimes ill

pressing adjective urgent or needing to be dealt with immediately

prevalent adjective existing very commonly or happening frequently

résumé noun US and ANZ for CV (=curriculum vitae: a short written description of your education, qualifications, previous employment and sometimes also your personal interests, which you send to an employer when you are trying to get a job)

rot verb to (cause to) decay

set in phrasal verb (of something unpleasant) to begin and to be likely to continue to exist

sliding scale noun A sliding scale is a system in which the rate at which something is measured varies as a result of other conditions.

steady adjective not moving or changing suddenly

strenuous adjective demanding or using a lot of physical or mental effort or energy

corridor noun a long passage in a building or train, esp. with rooms on either side

give [someone] a hard time phrasal verb If you give someone a hard time, you make things difficult or unpleasant for them.

interviewer noun An interviewer is the person who asks the questions during an interview.

panel noun a small group of people chosen to give advice, make a decision, or publicly discuss their opinions as entertainment

promising adjective Something which is promising shows signs that it is going to be successful or enjoyable.

short list noun A short list is a list of people who have been judged the most suitable for a job or prize, made from a longer list of people originally considered, and from which one person will be chosen.

bonus noun an extra amount of money that is given to you as a present or reward in addition to the money you were expecting

eligible adjective having the necessary qualities or fulfilling the necessary conditions

the nitty-gritty noun informal the basic facts of a situation

scope noun the opportunity for doing something

initiative noun the ability to use your judgment to make decisions and do things without needing to be told what to do

cheat verb to behave in a dishonest way in order to get what you want

hard sell noun If someone uses or tries the hard sell, they try to sell something to the buyer by being very forceful.

soft sell noun If someone uses a soft sell, they try to sell something to someone by being gently persuasive.

sales rep noun someone who travels to different places trying to persuade people to buy the things their company produces

bargain noun an agreement between two people or groups in which each promises to do something in exchange for something else

debate noun (a) serious discussion of a subject in which many people take part

dispute noun an argument or disagreement, esp. an official one between, for example, workers and employers or two bordering countries

appliance noun a device, machine or piece of equipment, esp. an electrical one that is used in the house such as a cooker, fire, washing machine, etc.

margin noun the amount by which one thing is different from another

remain verb to stay in the same place or in the same condition

encounter verb to experience (esp. something unpleasant), or to meet (someone) unexpectedly

micro- prefix very small

lens noun a thin piece of glass, plastic or other transparent material which usually has a curved surface and makes objects seem closer, larger, smaller, etc. Lenses are used in cameras, people's glasses and telescopes.

process verb To process photographic film is to make pictures from it .

viewfinder noun the part of a camera that you look through to see what it is that you are taking a photograph of

criterion noun a fact or standard by which you judge, decide about or deal with something

expertise noun skill

local authority noun the group of people who govern an area, esp. a city

microwave (oven) noun a machine that cooks food very quickly

refurbish verb to make (something) look new and bright again

nappy noun a square of thick soft cloth or a piece of clothing made of thick soft paper which is fastened around a baby's bottom and between its legs to absorb its urine and excrement

baked beans noun haricot beans that have been cooked in tomato sauce, sugar and spices, and are usually sold in tins

concrete jungle noun an ugly grey area of a city where people live in closely crowded apartment buildings and there is little space and no trees or grass

down-to-earth adjective Someone or something that is down-to-earth is practical, direct or ordinary.

flight simulator noun equipment which represents real conditions esp. in an aircraft or spacecraft

hereabouts adverb in this area; near this place

incentive noun something which encourages a person to do something

interstate noun US An interstate is a fast wide road which connects important cities in the United States.

midway adverb in the middle between two places or in the middle of a process or period of time

no-nonsense adjective No-nonsense means practical and interested in doing only what is necessary to achieve what is intended.

pharmaceutical adjective connected with the production of medicines

mall noun a large usually enclosed shopping area where cars are not allowed

Victorian adjective belonging to, made in or living in the time when Queen Victoria was queen of Britain (1837-1901)