ʃɔp n. & v. --n. 1 a
building,
room,
etc.,
for the retail sale of goods or services (chemist's shop; betting-shop). 2 a
place in
which manufacture or repairing is
done; a
workshop (engineering-shop). 3 a
profession,
trade,
business, etc.,
esp. as a
subject of
conversation (talk shop). 4 colloq. an
institution,
establishment, place of business, etc. --v. (shopped, shopping) 1 intr. a go to a shop or shops to
buy goods. b US = window-shop. 2 tr. esp.
Brit. sl.
inform against (a
criminal etc.). øall
over the shop colloq. 1 in
disorder (scattered
all over the shop). 2 in
every place (looked for it all over the shop). 3 wildly (hitting
out all over the shop). set up shop
establish oneself in business etc. shop
around look for the
best bargain. shop
assistant Brit. a
person who serves customers in a shop. shop-boy (or -girl) an assistant in a shop. shop-floor workers in a
factory etc. as
distinct from management. shop-soiled 1 (of an article) soiled or faded by
display in a shop. 2 (of a person,
idea, etc.)
grubby; tarnished; no longer
fresh or
new. shop
steward a person elected by workers in a factory etc. to
represent them in
dealings with management. shop-window 1 a display
window in a shop. 2 an
opportunity for displaying skills, talents, etc. shop-worn = shop-soiled. øøshopless adj. shoppy adj. [ME f. AF & OF eschoppe
booth f. MLG schoppe, OHG scopf porch]