商务英语初级词汇

153 absenteeism n [U] the problem of employees not being at work when they should be accessory n [C] a small thing that you add to a house, clothes etc to make them look more attractive account n 1 [C] an arrangement between a customer and a bank that allows the customer to pay in and take out money 2 accounts [plural] the official financial records of a company, person etc accountant n [C] a professional whose job is to keep the financial records of an organization, or to advise clients on financial and tax matters ad n [C] an informal word for advertisement administration n [U] the activity of managing and organizing the work of a company or organization advert n [C] BrE an informal word for advertisement advertise v [I,T] 1 to tell people publicly about a product or service in order to persuade them to buy it 2 to inform people publicly that a job is available and invite them to apply for it advertisement n [C] a picture, piece of writing, or film that tells people about a product or service in order to persuade them to buy it advertiser n [C] a person or organization that advertises their products or services advertising n [U] 1 telling people about a product or service in order to persuade them to buy it 2 the companies that prepare and sell advertising, considered as an industry advertising campaign n [C] an organization’s programme of advertising activities over a particular period with specific aims, for example to increase sales of a product agenda n [C] 1 a list of the subjects to be discussed at a meeting 2 the things that someone considers important or that they are planning to do something about aggressive adj 1 an aggressive plan or action is intended to achieve its result by using direct and forceful methods 2 an aggressive person or organization is very determined to achieve what they want application n [C] 1 a formal, usually written, request for something, especially a job, a place at university, or permission to do something 2 a practical use for something 3 a piece of software for a particular use or job apply v 1 [I] to make a formal, usually written request for something, especially a job, a place at university, or permission to do something 2 [T] to use something such as a law or an idea in a particular situation, activity, or process appoint v [T] to choose someone for a particular job appointment n 1 [C] an arrangement to meet someone at a particular place or time 2 [C,U] the act of choosing someone for a particular job, or the job itself approximate adj an approximate amount, number etc is a little more or a little less than the exact amount, number etc – approximately adv assertive adj behaving in a confident way in order to get what you want asset n 1 [C] something of value belonging to a person or company that has value or the power to earn money 2 assets [plural] the property, equipment etc owned by a business considered together, as shown in its balance sheet attend v [I,T] to go to an event such as a meeting award n [C] a prize for good performance in a particular activity background n 1 [C] someone’s past, for example their education, qualifications, and the jobs they have had 2 [C,U] information about events in the past that explain the current situation balance of trade n [singular] the difference between the value of a country’s exports and its imports balance sheet n [C] a document showing a company’s financial position at a particular time bankrupt adj not having enough money to pay your debts – bankruptcy n [C,U] bargain1 n [C] 1 something you buy cheaply or for less than its usual price 2 an agreement between two people to do something in return for something else bargain2 v [I] to discuss the conditions of a sale, agreement etc in order to get the greatest advantage for yourself – bargaining n [U] benchmark n [C] 1 something that can be used as a comparison to judge or measure other things 2 a good performance in a particular activity by one company that can be used as a standard to judge the same activity in other companies – benchmark v [T], benchmarking n [U] bill n [C] the total cost of something, or the document that shows this board also board of directors n [C usually singular] the group of people who have been elected by shareholders to manage a company bond n [C] a financial certificate showing an amount borrowed by an organization or government at a particular Glossary of business terms Adjective (adj) Headwords for adjectives followed by information in square brackets [only before a noun] and [not before a noun] show any restrictions on where they can be used. Noun (n) The codes [C] and [U] show whether a noun, or a particular sense of a noun, is countable (an agenda, two agendas) or uncountable (absenteeism, advertising). Verbs (v) The forms of irregular verbs are given after the headword. The codes [I] (intransitive) and [T] (transitive) show whether a verb, or a particular sense of a verb, has or does not have an object. Phrasal verbs (phr v) are shown after the verb they are related to. Some entries show information on words that are related to the headword. Adverbs (adv) are often shown in this way after adjectives. Region labels The codes AmE and BrE show whether a word or sense of a word is used only in American English or British English. 154 Glossary rate of interest for a particular period bonus n [C] an extra amount of money added to an employee’s wages, usually as a reward for doing difficult work or for doing their work well boom1 n [C,U] 1 a time when business activity increases rapidly, so that the demand for goods and services increases, prices and wages go up, and unemployment falls 2 a time when activity on the stock market reaches a high level and share prices are very high boom2 v [I] if business, trade, or the economy is booming, it is very successful and growing branch n [C] an individual bank, office, shop etc that is part of a larger organization brand1 n [C] a name given to a product or group of products by a company for easy recognition brand2 v [T] to give a name to a product or group of products for easy recognition – branding n [U] bribery n [U] dishonestly giving money to someone to persuade them to do something to help you – bribe n [C] budget 1 n [C] an amount of money that an organization has available to spend on something in a particular period budget 2 v [I,T] to plan the amounts of money to be spent on different things in a particular period bureaucracy n 1 [C] a system of government that involves a large number of departments and officials 2 [U] disapproving all the complicated rules and processes of an official system, especially when they are confusing or responsible for causing a delay campaign n [C] a series of activities designed to achieve a particular result capacity n 1 [C,U] the amount of space that a container, room etc has 2 [singular, U] the amount of something that a company, factory etc can deal with or produce capital n [U] money invested in something in order to make a profit career n [C] 1 a profession or job that you train for 2 the series of jobs that you do during your working life career ladder n [singular] all the increasingly important jobs that someone has, or would like to have, as they get older cash n [U] money, especially money that is immediately available in banknotes, coins, bank accounts etc cash flow also cashflow n 1 [U] the amounts of money coming into and going out of a company, and the timing of these 2 [C,U] profit made during a particular period, measured in different ways by different businesses catalogue BrE catalog AmE n [C] a book with all of a company’s products or services listed and described chain n [C] a number of shops, hotels, or cinemas belonging to the same organization chair n [singular] 1 the position of being the chairperson of a company or organization or the person who is chairperson 2 the position of being in charge of a meeting, or the person who is in charge of it – chair v [T] chairman plural -men, chairwoman plural -women n [C] the most important person on the board of directors of a company, especially in the UK. In the US, this person is usually called the president of the company chamber of commerce n [C] an organization made up of businesspeople in a particular place, that helps businesses with advice, support etc charge1 n 1 [C,U] the amount of money you have to pay for goods or services 2 be in charge of sth to be the person who controls or manages an activity or a group of people charge2 v [I,T] to ask someone to pay a particular amount of money for something chief executive n [C] the manager with the most authority in the day-to-day management of a company Chief Executive Officer (CEO) n [C usually singular] the title of the manager with the most authority in the day-to- day management of a company, used especially in the US. The job of CEO is sometimes combined with that of president client n [C] someone who pays for professional services colleague n [C] someone you work with, used especially by professional people and managers commercial1 adj 1 relating to business 2 a commercial product or service is sold in order to make a profit commercial2 n [C] an advertisement on television or radio commission n [C,U] an amount of money paid to someone according to the value of goods, services, investments etc they have sold compensation n [U] 1 an amount paid to someone because they have been hurt or harmed 2 the total amount of pay and benefits that an employee receives, especially a high-level manager compete v [I] if a company, country etc competes with others, it tries to persuade people to buy its products or services rather than those of the others competition n 1 [U] a situation where businesses or countries are competing with each other 2 [C] an event where people have to answer questions etc in order to win prizes competitive adj 1 used to describe situations where companies, countries etc are competing 2 a competitive price is similar to or less than other companies’ prices competitive advantage n [C] something that helps you to be better or more successful than others competitor n [C] a person, product, company, country etc that is competing with another component n [C] a part of a product, activity etc concept n [C] an idea for a product, business etc conglomerate n [C] a large business organization consisting of different companies, often involved in different activities consume v [T] to use raw materials, finished products etc consumer n [C] a person who buys products or services for their own use, rather than to use in business or to resell consumer behaviour BrE consumer behavior AmE n [U] how, why, where, and when consumers buy things, and the study of this contract n [C] a formal agreement between two or more people or organizations to do something, for example to buy something corporate adj [only before a noun] relating to companies, usually large ones counselling BrE counseling AmE n [U] when people are given advice to help them in a difficult situation counsellor BrE counselor AmE n [C] someone whose job is to give counselling counterpart n [C] your counterpart is someone with the same job as you in another organization crash1 n [C] 1 a time when many investments lose their value very quickly 2 an occasion when a computer or computer software suddenly and unexpectedly stops working or fails to work properly crash2 v 1 [I] if stock markets, shares etc crash, they suddenly lose a lot of value 2 [I,T] if a computer crashes, or if you crash a computer, it suddenly and unexpectedly stops working create v [T] to make something that did not exist before Glossary 155 creative adj producing or using new ideas – creativity n [U] credit n [U] 1 borrowed money that is available to spend 2 an arrangement with a shop, supplier etc to buy something now and pay later CRM abbreviation for customer relationship management cultural adj 1 relating to artistic activities such as theatre, classical music etc 2 relating to the ideas, beliefs, and customs that are shared and accepted by people in a society, company etc culture n [C,U] the ideas, beliefs, and customs that are shared and accepted by people in a society, company etc currency n [C,U] the money used in a particular country customer n [C] a person or organization that buys products customer loyalty n [U] when customers continue to buy a particular company’s product, and do not change to other companies’ products customer orientation n [U] when a company finds out about its customers’ needs, and offers products and services that satisfy these needs customer relationship management (CRM) n [U] a company’s activities to keep its customers satisfied, find out more about their needs etc cyberspace n [U] all the sites, services etc on the Internet debt n 1 [C] an amount of money that is owed 2 [U] the state of owing money 3 [U] money borrowed by a company in the form of loans and bonds, rather than shares decline v [I] 1 if an industry or country declines, it becomes less profitable, productive etc 2 if sales, output, production etc decline, they become less – decline n [C,U] decrease v 1 [I] if an amount, level etc decreases, it goes down 2 [T] if you decrease an amount, level etc, you reduce it – decrease n [C,U] delegate v [I,T] to give part of your power or work to someone who is at a lower level in the organization – delegation n [U] deliver v [I,T] 1 to take goods to a place 2 to produce results – delivery n [C,U] demand n [U] 1 spending on goods and services by companies and people 2 the total amount of a type of goods or services that people or companies buy in a particular period 3 the total amount of a type of goods or services that people or companies would buy if they were available deputy n [C] someone in an organization who is immediately below someone else, and who does their work when they are not there – deputy adj [only before a noun] devaluation n [C,U] when the value of a country’s currency goes down or is reduced by the government, in relation to other currencies distribute v [T] to supply goods to shops, customers etc – distribution n [U] distributor n [C] a business that makes goods available either to shops or directly to buyers drive1 n 1 [U] someone’s energy, motivation, and ability to work hard 2 [C usually singular] an effort to improve or increase the level of something drive2 v [T] 1 to control a train, car etc 2 [usually passive] if an activity is driven by something, it is influenced by it and depends on it durable adj if something is durable, it lasts a long time – durability n [U] earnings n [plural] 1 the money that a person or particular group of people earn in a particular period 2 the profit made by a company in a particular period, or by companies in general economic adj 1 [only before a noun] relating to the economy, business etc 2 if an activity is economic, it is profitable economical adj using time, money, goods etc carefully and without wasting any economically adv 1 in a way that relates to the economy, business etc 2 in a way that makes a profit 3 in way that uses time, money, goods etc carefully and without wasting any economy n [C] the system by which a country’s goods and services are produced and used, and the people and organizations involved in it employ v [T] to pay someone to work for you in a particular job employee n [C] someone who works for a company, especially in a job below the rank of manager employee loyalty n [U] when employees like working for a particular company, work hard, and do not want to leave employer n [C] a person or organization that employs people employment n [U] 1 work that you do to earn money 2 the number of people in an area, industry etc that have jobs, the type of jobs they have etc e-tailer n [C] a person or organization that sells goods to the public on the Internet executive n [C] someone with an important job as a manager in an organization expand v 1 [I,T] to become larger in size, amount, or number, or to make something larger in size, amount, or number 2 [I] if a company expands, it increases its sales, areas of activity etc – expansion n [U] expense n 1 [C,U] one of the costs of a particular activity 2 expenses [plural] money that an employee spends while they do their job, for example on travel and food, and which their employer then pays back exploit v [T] 1 to treat someone unfairly in order to make money, get an advantage for yourself etc 2 to gain advantage from a situation, opportunity etc exploitation n [U] when you treat someone unfairly in order to make money, get an advantage for yourself etc export1 n 1 [C usually plural] a product that is sold to another country 2 [U] the sale of products to other countries export2 v [I,T] to sell products to other countries facility n 1 [C] a place or large building which is used to make or provide a particular product or service 2 facilities [plural] special buildings or equipment that have been provided for a particular use, such as sports activities, shopping, or travelling failure n [C,U] 1 when someone or something does not achieve the results that were expected 2 when a machine stops working fall1 v past tense fell past participle fallen [I] to go down to a lower price, level, amount etc fall2 n [C] 1 a reduction in the amount, level, price etc of something 2 when a person or organization loses their position of power or becomes unsuccessful feature1 n [C] one of the characteristics of a product or service that is useful, attractive etc feature2 v [T] if a product features a particular characteristic, it possesses it finance1 n 1 [U] money that is provided or lent for a particular purpose 2 [U] the department in a company that deals with money 3 finances [plural] the situation of a country, company etc in relation to the amount of money it has, owes etc – 156 Glossary financial adj finance2 v [T] to give or lend money for a particular project, activity etc firm n [C] a company fleet n [C] a fleet of cars, trucks etc is all the cars etc that a company owns flexible adj 1 a person, plan etc that is flexible can change or be changed easily to suit any new situation 2 if arrangements for work are flexible, employers can ask workers to do different jobs, work part-time rather than full- time, give them contracts for short periods etc. Flexible working also includes job-sharing and working from home – flexibility n [U] flexitime BrE flextime AmE n [U] a system in which people who work in a company do a fixed number of hours each week, but can choose what time they start or finish work within certain limits focus group n [C] a group of people brought together to discuss their feelings and opinions about a particular subject. In market research, focus groups discuss their opinions of products, advertisements, companies etc forecast1 n [C] a description of what is likely to happen in the future, based on information available now forecast2 v past tense and past participle forecast or forecasted [T] to state what is likely to happen in the future, based on information available now formal adj 1 formal behaviour is very polite 2 [only before noun] formal qualifications are those you gain at school, university etc, rather than experience you get in your job found v [T] to start a new activity, organization etc – founder n [C] global adj 1 affecting or involving the whole world 2 including and considering all the parts of a situation together, rather than the individual parts separately – globally adv globalization also -isation BrE n [U] the tendency for the world economy to work as one unit, led by large international companies doing business all over the world globalize also -ise BrE v [I,T] if a company, an industry, or an economy globalizes or is globalized, it no longer depends on condition