Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - advance

~1 S3 W2 n 1 in ~ before something happens or is expected to happen  (I should warn you in advance, we may be delayed.) six months/a year in advance  (Rent is payable three months in advance.) + of  (Could you distribute copies well in advance of the meeting?) 2 »DEVELOPMENT/IMPROVEMENT« a change, discovery, or invention that brings progress  (His book argues that there have been major advances for women since 1945.) + in  (Recent advances in biotechnology have raised moral questions.) 3 »FORWARD MOVEMENT« forward movement or progress  (the army's advance) 4 »MONEY« C usually singular money paid to someone before the usual time 5 ~s an attempt to start a friendly or sexual relationship with someone make ~s  (She accused her boss of making advances to her.) 6 »INCREASE« technical an increase in the price or value of something  (a further big advance in the price of gold) ~2 W3 v 1 »MOVE« to move forward, especially in a slow and determined way ~ on (=move forward in order to attack)  (Troops advanced on the rebel stronghold.) + across/through/towards  (The army slowly advanced across the frozen tundra.) 2 »DEVELOP« if something such as technical or scientific knowledge advances, it develops and improves  (Our understanding of human genetics has advanced considerably.) 3 ~ a plan/idea/proposal etc formal to suggest a plan etc so that other people can consider it  (A similar plan was advanced by the British delegation.) 4 »MONEY« to give someone money before they have earned it ~ sb sth  (Will they advance you some money until your get your first paycheck?) 5 ~ a cause/your interests/your career etc to do something that will help you achieve advantage of success 6 »PRICE« technical if the price or value of something advances, it increases in amount  (Oil shares advanced today in heavy trading.) 7 »CHANGE TIME« formal to change the time when an event should happen to an earlier time or date  (The time of the meeting has been advanced to ten o'clock.) 8 »FILM/CLOCK« formal if you ~ a film, clock etc, you make it go forward  (- see also advancing) ~3 adj 1 ~ planning/warning/booking etc planning etc that is done before an event  (We received no advance warning of the storm.) 2 ~ party/team a group of people who go first to a place where something will happen to prepare for it