商务英语高级词汇

Writing file acquire v [T] if one company acquires another, it buys it acquisition n [C] when one company buys another or part of another company, or the company or part of a company that is bought advertising campaign n [C] an organization’s programme of advertising activities over a particular period with specific aims, for example an increase in sales or awareness 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 alliance n [C] an agreement between two or more organizations to work together amend v [T] to make small changes or improvements to a law or a document AOB n [U] any other business; the time during a meeting when items not on the agenda can be discussed application n [C] 1 a formal, usually written, request for something or for permission to do something 2 a formal request for work 3 a practical use for something 4 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 3 [I,T] to have an effect on someone or something, or to concern a person, group, or situation approximate adj an approximate amount, number etc is a little more or a little less than the exact amount, number etc —approximately adv asset n [C] something belonging to an individual or a business that has value or the power to earn money assign v [T] to give someone a particular job or task, or to send them to work in a particular place attend v [I,T] to go to an event such as a meeting attribute n [C] a characteristic, feature, or quality awareness n [U] knowledge or understanding of a particular subject, situation, or thing background n [C] someone’s past, for example their education, qualifications, and the jobs they have had balance sheet n [C] a document showing a company’s financial position and wealth at a particular time. The balance sheet is often described as a ‘photograph’ of a company’s financial situation at a particular moment bankrupt1 n [C] someone judged to be unable to pay their debts by a court of law, and whose financial affairs are handled by a court official until the debts are settled bankrupt2 adj not having enough money to pay your debts bankrupt3 v [T] to make a person, business, or country go bankrupt bankruptcy n plural bankruptcies [C,U] when someone is judged to be unable to pay their debts by a court of law, and their assets are shared among their creditors (=those that they owe money to), or a case of this happening bank statement n [C] information sent regularly by a bank to a customer, showing the money that has gone into and out of their account over a particular period barrier to trade also trade barrier n plural barriers to trade [C] something that makes trade between two countries more difficult or expensive, for example a tax on imports benefits package n [C] the total amount of pay and all the other advantages that an employee may receive such as bonuses, health insurance, a company car etc bid1 n [C] 1 an offer to buy something, for example a company in a takeover, or the price offered 2 an offer to do work or provide services for a fixed price, in competition with other offers bid2 v past tense and past participle bid present participle bidding 1 [I,T] to offer to pay a particular price for something, for example a company in a takeover 2 [I] to offer to do work or provide services for a fixed price, in competition with others —bidding n [U] billboard n [C] AmE a large sign used for advertising. Billboards are usually called hoardings in British English blueprint n [C] a plan for achieving or improving something board also board of directors n [C usually singular] the group of people who have been elected by shareholders to manage a company 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 increases, prices and wages go up, and unemployment falls 2 a time when activity on the stockmarket 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 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 (AOB, awareness). 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 or British English. 168 Glossary 169 boost v [T] to increase something such as sales, production or prices bottom line n [C] the figure that shows a company’s total profit or loss brainstorm v [I,T] to develop new ideas and solve problems by having a meeting where everyone makes suggestions and these are discussed 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 branded adj branded goods or products have brand names branding n [U] the activity of giving brand names to products, developing people’s awareness of them etc brand leader n [C] the brand with the most sales in a particular market bribe1 n [C] money that is paid secretly and dishonestly to obtain someone’s help bribe2 v [T] to dishonestly give money to someone to persuade them to do something that will help you bribery n [U] dishonestly giving money to someone to persuade them to do something to help you broker n [C] a person or organization whose job is to buy and sell shares, currencies, property, insurance etc for others bureaucracy n plural bureaucracies 1 [C] a system of governing that has 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 bust adj [informal] if a company goes bust, it cannot continue to operate because it does not have enough money to pay its debts buyout also buy-out n [C] 1 the act of buying a business 2 the act of buying all the shares in a company of a particular shareholder canvass v [T] to try to get information or support from people capitalization also -isation BrE n [U] 1 the total value of a company’s shares 2 the total value of all the shares on a stockmarket at a particular time cash cow n [C] a very profitable business or part of a business 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 for a particular period, defined in different ways by different businesses cash generation n [U] money that a company gets from sales after costs are taken away. Cash generation is often used in talking about the degree to which the company is able to do this chair n [singular] 1 the position of being the chairman of a company or organization or the person who is chairman 2 the position of being in charge of a meeting or the person who is in charge of it —chair v [T] challenge n [C] something difficult that you feel determined to solve or achieve Chief Executive Officer (CEO) n [C usually singular] the manager with the most authority in the day to day management of a company, especially in the US. The job of CEO is sometimes combined with others, such as that of president clock v clock in/on phr v [I] to record on a special card or computer the time you arrive at or begin work clock off/out phr v [I] to record on a special card or computer the time you stop or leave work collapse v [I] if a company, organization, or system collapses, it suddenly fails or becomes too weak to continue —collapse n [C,U] commission n [C,U] an amount of money paid to someone according to the value of goods, services, investments etc they have sold commitment n [C,U] a promise to do something or to behave in a particular way compatible adj 1 [technical] compatible machines, methods, ideas etc can exist together or be used together without causing problems 2 two people that are compatible are able to have a good relationship compensate v [I,T] to pay someone money because they have suffered injury, loss, or damage compensation n [U] 1 an amount paid to someone because they have been hurt or harmed in some way 2 the total of pay and benefits for an employee, especially a high-level manager competitive advantage n [C] something that helps you to be better or more successful than others complementary adj sold or used together with other products concept n [C] an idea for a product, business etc consortium n plural consortiums or consortia [C] a combination of several companies working together for a particular purpose, for example in order to buy something or build something consumer behaviour BrE consumer behavior AmE n [U] how, why, where, and when consumers buy things, and the study of this consumption n [U] the amount of goods, services, energy, or natural materials used in a particular period of time contingency n [C] an event or situation that might happen in the future, especially one that might cause problems controlling interest n [C,U] the situation where one shareholder owns enough shares to control a company controlling shareholder also majority shareholder n [C] someone who owns more than half the shares in a company core adj core business/activity/product the business, activity etc that makes most money for a company and that is considered to be its most important and central one corrupt1 adj using power in a dishonest or illegal way in order to get money or an advantage of some kind corrupt2 v [T] to encourage someone to behave in an immoral or dishonest way —corrupted adj, corruptible adj, corruptibility n [U] corruption n [U] 1 the crime of giving or receiving money, gifts, a better job etc in exchange for doing something dishonest or illegal that helps another person or company 2 when someone who has power or authority uses it in a dishonest or illegal way to get money or an advantage counterfeit1 adj made to look exactly like something else, usually illegally counterfeit2 v [T] to copy something so that it looks like something else, usually illegally —counterfeiter n [C] crash1 n [C] 1 a time when many investments lose their value very quickly, usually when investors lose confidence in the market and sell 2 an occasion when a computer or computer software suddenly and unexpectedly stops working or fails to work properly crash2 v 1 [I] if stockmarkets, 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 170 Glossary crisis n plural crises [C,U] 1 a period or moment of great difficulty, danger, or uncertainty, especially in politics or economics 2 a time when a personal problem or situation has reached its worst point culture n [C,U] 1 the ideas, beliefs, and customs that are shared and accepted by people in a society 2 the attitudes or beliefs that are shared by a particular group of people or in a particular organization customize also -ise BrE v [T] if something is customized, it is designed or built especially for a customer, making it different from other things of its kind customs n [U] the government department responsible for collecting the tax on goods that have been brought into the country and making sure that illegal goods are not imported or exported deceit n [C,U] when someone tries to gain an advantage for themselves by tricking someone, for example by making a false statement deceive v [T] to make someone believe something that is not true in order to get what you want decline v [I] 1 if an industry or country declines, it becomes less profitable, productive, wealthy etc 2 if sales, output, production etc decline, they become less —decline n [C,U] defect n [C] a fault or the lack of something that means that a product etc is not perfect —defective adj, defectively adv delegate v [I,T] to give part of your work or power to someone else, usually someone in a lower position than you demand n [U] 1 spending on goods and services by companies and people in a particular economy 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 demerge v [I,T] if a company or unit demerges from a group, or if it is demerged, it becomes a separate company — demerger n [C] deregulate v [T] if a government deregulates a particular business activity, it allows companies to operate more freely so as to increase competition —deregulation n [U] devious adj using dishonest tricks and deceiving people to get what you want —deviously adv, deviousness n [U] differentiation n [U] when a company shows how its products are different from each other and from competing products, for example in its advertising —differentiate v [T] disclosure n 1 [C,U] the duty of someone in a professional position to inform customers, shareholders etc about facts that will influence their decisions 2 [U] the act of giving information about someone by an organization or person who would normally have to keep that information secret, for example when a bank gives information about a customer’s accounts to the police 3 [C] a fact which is made known after being kept secret dismissal n [C,U] when someone is removed from their job by their employer dispense v [I,T] if a machine dispenses something, it gives it to someone when they put in money, a code number etc disposal n 1 [U] the act of getting rid of something 2 [C] an asset that is sold, and the act of selling it dispose v [T] 1 if you dispose of something, you get rid of it 2 formal if a company disposes of a particular asset, activity etc, it sells it distribution channel also distribution chain n [C] the way a product is made available and sold, the organizations involved etc diversify v [I] 1 if a company or economy diversifies, it increases the range of goods or services it produces 2 to start to put your money into different types of investments in addition to the investments you already have —diversification n [U] downmarket1 also downscale AmE adj involving goods and services that are cheap and perhaps not of very good quality compared to others of the same type, or the people that buy them downmarket2 also downscale AmE adv go/move downmarket/downscale to start buying or selling cheaper goods or services dress code n [C] the way that you are expected to dress in a particular situation, as an employee of a particular company etc drive 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 drop1 v 1 [I] to fall to a lower level or amount 2 [T] to stop doing or planning something drop away/off phr v [I] to become lower in level or amount drop2 n [C usually singular] if there is a drop in the amount, level, or number of something, it goes down or becomes less dumping n [U] the activity of selling products in an export market cheaper than in the home market, or cheaper than they cost to make, usually in order to increase market share durable adj if something is durable, it lasts a long time — durability n [U] economies of scale n plural the advantages that a bigger factory, shop etc has over a smaller one because it can spread its fixed costs over a larger number of units and thus produce or sell things more cheaply economy drive n [C] a planned effort by an organization to reduce costs efficient adj 1 producing goods using as little time, money etc as possible 2 doing a job quickly and well endorse v [T] if someone, usually famous, endorses a product, they say how good it is in advertisements. People will buy the product because they like or trust the person — endorsement n [C,U] enhance v [T] to improve the quality or value of something ethical adj 1 connected with principles of what is right and wrong 2 morally good or correct —ethically adv ethics n [plural] moral rules or principles of behaviour that should guide members of a profession or organization and make them deal honestly and fairly with each other and with their customers etiquette n [U] the formal rules for polite behaviour evade v [T] to not do something you should do according to the law, for example to not pay tax 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] exploit v [T] 1 to use something fully and effectively in order to gain a profit or advantage 2 to treat someone unfairly in order to make money or gain an advantage for yourself extort v [T] to illegally force someone to give you money by threatening them —extortion n [U] facility n plural facilities 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 Glossary 171 fake1 adj made to look like something valuable or genuine in order to deceive people fake2 n [C] a copy of an original document, valuable object etc that is intended to deceive people into believing it is the real document, object etc fall1 v past tense fell past participle fallen v [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 fiddle n [C] BrE informal 1 a dishonest way of getting money or not paying money 2 be on the fiddle to be getting money dishonestly or illegally flaw n [C] 1 a mistake or weakness in a machine, system etc that prevents it from working correctly 2 a mistake in an argument, plan, or set of ideas 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 also 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 flood v [T] to send a large number of things such as letters to an organization fluctuate v [I] if prices, income, rates etc fluctuate, they change, increasing or falling often or regularly fluctuating adj fluctuation n [C,U] the movement of prices, income, rates etc as they increase and fall focus n [U] when a company serves particular groups of