sup•ply1/səˈplaɪ/USA pronunciationv.,-plied, -ply•ing,n., pl.-plies. v.
to furnish (a person, thing, etc.) with what is needed:[~ + object + with + object]These foods supply the body with necessary vitamins and minerals.
to furnish or provide (something needed) to a person or thing:[~ + object (+ to + object)]The Aswan Dam supplied needed water to the region.
n.
[uncountable] the act of supplying, furnishing, satisfying, etc.
something supplied:[countable]The storm cut off the city's water supply.
a quantity or amount of something available; stock or store:[countable]The store carries a large supply of swimwear.
Business the amount or quantity of a product that is in the market and available for purchase:[uncountable]the laws of supply and demand in the capitalist system.
Usually, supplies.[plural] an amount or store of food or other things necessary for maintaining an army, business, or other enterprise:[countable]bringing supplies to the war zone.
to furnish or provide (a person, establishment, place, etc.) with what is lacking or requisite:to supply someone clothing; to supply a community with electricity.
to furnish or provide (something wanting or requisite):to supply electricity to a community.
to make up, compensate for, or satisfy (a deficiency, loss, need, etc.):The TVA supplied the need for cheap electricity.
to fill or occupy as a substitute, as a vacancy, a pulpit, etc.:During the summer local clergymen will supply the pulpit.
v.i.
to fill the place of another, esp. the pulpit of a church, temporarily or as a substitute:Who will supply until the new minister arrives?
n.
the act of supplying, furnishing, providing, satisfying, etc.:to begin the supply of household help.
something that is supplied:The storm cut off our water supply.
a quantity of something on hand or available, as for use; a stock or store:Did you see our new supply of shirts?
Usually, supplies. a provision, stock, or store of food or other things necessary for maintenance:to lay in supplies for the winter.
Business[Econ.]the quantity of a commodity that is in the market and available for purchase or that is available for purchase at a particular price.
Militarysupplies:
all items necessary for the equipment, maintenance, and operation of a military command, including food, clothing, arms, ammunition, fuel, materials, and machinery.
procurement, distribution, maintenance, and salvage of supplies.
a person who fills a vacancy or takes the place of another, esp. temporarily.
supplies.[Obs.]reinforcements.
[Obs.]aid.
Middle French souplier, variant of soupleer Latin supplēre to fill up, equivalent. to sup- sup- + plēre to fill (see full1); (noun, nominal) late Middle English: aid, succor, derivative of the verb, verbal