supply

supply

supply¹ [sə plī′]

vt.

supplied, supplying [ME supplyen < MFr supplier < L supplere, to fill up < sub-,SUB- + plere, to fill: see FULL¹]

1. to give, furnish, or provide (what is needed or wanted) [to supply tools to workers]

2. to meet the needs or requirements of; furnish, provide, or equip with what is needed or wanted [to supply workers with tools]

3. to compensate for; make good [to supply a deficiency]

4. to act as a substitute in; fill or serve in temporarily [to supply another's pulpit]

vi.

to serve as a temporary substitute

n.

pl. supplies

1. the act of supplying

2. an amount or quantity available for use; stock; store

3. [pl.] materials, provisions, etc. for supplying an army, expedition, a business, etc.; sometimes, specif., provisions for an army other than materiel, vehicles, etc.

4. [often pl.] Chiefly Brit. an amount of money granted for government expenses; appropriation

5. a temporary substitute, as for a minister

6. Obs.

a) aid; assistance

b) reinforcements

7. Econ. the amount of a commodity available for purchase at a given price: opposed to DEMAND

adj.

1. having to do with a supply or supplies

2. serving as a substitute

supplier

n.

supply² [sup′lē]

adv.

in a supple manner; supplely