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