Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - option

~ n 1 »A CHOICE« a choice you can make in a particular situation  (As I see it, we have two options - either we sell the house or we rent it out. | I usually choose the vegetarian option in restaurants. | the option of doing sth)  (I always had the option of going back to Canada. | have no option but to do sth (=be forced to do something because there are no other choices))  (Teenage mothers often have no option but to live with their parents.) 2 keep/leave your options open to wait before making a decision  (We should keep our options open until Jim can study the results of the survey.) 3 »RIGHT TO BUY/SELL« the right to buy or sell something in the future + on  (The Saudi government has agreed to buy 20 planes, with an option on a further 10.) 4 »COMPUTERS« one of the possible choices you can make when using a computer program1 (1)  (Press `P' to select the print option.) 5 »STH THAT IS ADDITIONAL« something that is offered in addition to the standard equipment when you buy something new, especially a car 6 »AT COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY« BrE a subject that you can choose to study as part of a course  (I did an option in Korean Studies.) 7 first option the chance to buy or get something before anyone else  (They've agreed to give us the first option on their apartment.) 8 the soft/easy option the course of action that needs the least effort, chosen because you are being lazy  (Some people consider studying Expressive Arts to be a soft option.)