Store

/stɔːr/

nounBeginner🔥Very CommonLocation
4 meanings2 idioms/phrases4 questions

Definitions

4 meanings
1

A shop or establishment that sells goods.

/stɔːr/

nounneutralBeginner
Location

A place where goods are kept for sale.

The bookstore has a wide selection of novels.

💡 Simply: Imagine a place, like a candy store or a toy store, where you can buy things you want. Stores are like treasure chests filled with all kinds of goodies!

👶 For kids: A store is a place where you can buy things like toys or food.

More Examples

2

The hardware store is located on the corner.

3

The general store in the small town sold everything from food to tools.

How It's Used

Commerce

"I went to the grocery store to buy milk and eggs."

Retail

"The department store is having a huge sale."

2

To put something away for future use.

/stɔːr/

verbneutralBeginner
Action

To keep or accumulate (something) for future use.

She stored the excess food in the refrigerator.

💡 Simply: Imagine you're saving your favorite toys in a special box so you can play with them later. Storing means keeping something safe for another time.

👶 For kids: To store means to put something away to keep it safe.

More Examples

2

The company stores customer data securely.

3

He decided to store his valuables in a safe.

How It's Used

Everyday life

"We store our winter clothes in the attic during the summer."

Technology

"The computer stores data on a hard drive."

Tip:Think of putting items in a safe place to keep them.
3

To supply goods for sale

/stɔːr/

verbneutralmedium
Action

To supply with goods.

The company stores and distributes products to retail outlets.

💡 Simply: Imagine a big warehouse that sends new toys to your favorite toy store. That's storing in the sense of providing supplies.

👶 For kids: When a big warehouse helps a little store by giving it more things to sell, that's storing.

More Examples

2

The factory stores materials for production.

3

They needed to find a way to store all the necessary food and water before the hurricane hit.

How It's Used

Business

"The warehouse stores and supplies inventory to multiple stores."

Tip:Imagine a central place replenishing the supplies of a smaller outlet.
4

A supply or stock of something.

/stɔːr/

nounneutralmedium
Quantity

An amount or supply of something accumulated for future use.

The farmer had a good store of grain for the winter.

💡 Simply: Imagine you have a bunch of snacks hidden for later. That's a store of treats!

👶 For kids: A store can be a collection of things.

More Examples

2

The company maintained a store of emergency supplies.

3

He kept a store of firewood to keep his house warm.

How It's Used

Logistics

"The company has a large store of raw materials."

Tip:Think of a hidden supply ready for use.

Idioms & expressions

in store

Likely to happen or be received in the future.

"They didn't know what was in store for them."

store up

Accumulate a supply or a stock of something

"They have to store up supplies for the winter."

From Old French *estorer* ('to stock, furnish'), ultimately from Latin *staurare* ('to build, construct, store').

Used since the 13th century, originally referring to a place for keeping provisions.

Memory tip

Think of a place where you can go to purchase items.

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"to build, to construct, to provide"

grocery storedepartment storestore awaystore updata storestore manager

Common misspellings

storrstorstoor

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written