Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary
pre·fer
\\pri-ˈfər\\ transitive verb
(pre·ferred ; pre·fer·ring) ETYMOLOGY Middle English preferren, from Anglo-French preferrer, from Latin praeferre to put before, prefer, from prae- + ferre to carry — more at bear
DATE 14th century
1. to promote or advance to a rank or position2. to like better or best
prefers sports to reading
prefers to watch TV3. to give (a creditor) priority4. archaic : to put or set forward or before someone
: recommend
5. to bring or lay against someone
won't prefer charges6. to bring forward or lay before one for consideration
•
pre·fer·rer noun prefer
1388, "to put forward or advance in rank or fortune, to promote," from L. præferre "place or set before, carry in front," from præ- "before" + ferre "to carry, to place" (see infer). Meaning "to esteem (something) more than others" is recorded from 1390. Original sense in Eng. is preserved in preferment (1451). Preference "act of prefering" is recorded from 1656; sense of "that which one prefers" is from 1864. Preferential is first recorded 1849.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7
☞ preferpre·fer /
pri5fE:(r) /
verb(
-rr-)
(not used in the progressive tenses 不用于进行时) to like one thing or person better than another; to choose one thing rather than sth else because you like it better
较喜欢；喜欢…多于…:
▪ [VN]
'Coffee or tea?' 'I'd prefer tea, thanks.' "要咖啡还是茶？" "我要茶,谢谢。"
I much prefer jazz to rock music. 我喜欢爵士乐远胜过摇滚乐。
I would prefer it if you didn't tell anyone. 我希望你别告诉任何人。
A local firm is to be preferred. 选一家当地的公司更好。
▪ [VN-ADJ]
I prefer my coffee black. 我喜欢不加奶的咖啡。
▪ [V to inf]
The donor prefers to remain anonymous. 捐赠者希望不披露姓名。
I prefer not to think about it. 我不想考虑此事。
▪ [VN to inf]
Would you prefer me to stay? 你愿意我留下来吗？
▪ [V -ing]
I prefer playing in defence. 我喜欢打防守。
▪ [V that]
(
formal)
I would prefer that you did not mention my name. 我希望你不要说出我的名字。 IDIOMS ⇨ see
charge
n.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English
Oxford Collocations dictionary for students of Englishprefer
verb
ADV. greatly, much, strongly I much prefer the orchestra's 1998 recording of the symphony. | infinitely | simply You may simply prefer just to sit on the terrace with a cocktail. | really I would really prefer to teach girls. | rather, slightly | certainly Egg pasta is certainly preferred by many chefs. | clearly, obviously | apparently Huge majorities apparently prefer reducing unemployment to fighting inflation. | generally, usually | naturally Employers naturally prefer candidates with some previous experience of the job. | personally | still
VERB + PREFER would We can eat out if you like, but I would prefer to stay in. | tend to Industries still tend to prefer virgin raw materials to recycled ones. | seem to
PREP. to I prefer his earlier paintings to his later ones.
Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged
pre·fer
\
R prēˈfər, prə̇ˈ-, +
vowel -fər.; -
R -fə̄, +
suffixal vowel -fər.
also -fə̄r, +
vowel in a following word -fər.
or -fə̄
also -fə̄r\
transitive verb
(
preferred ;
preferred ;
preferring ;
prefers)
Etymology: Middle English
preferren, from Middle French
preferer, from Latin
praeferre to bear before, put before, prefer, from
prae- pre- +
ferre to bear, carry — more at
bear
1.
a. archaic : to promote or advance to a rank or position
< has preferred me to the valuable rectory of this parish — Jane Austen >
b. archaic : to move ahead or set forward
c. obsolete : to help bring about (a result)
2. : to have a preference for
: choose
: like better
: value more highly
< preferred to live abroad — Edward Shils >
< the rye grasses prefer cool and moist conditions — Farmer's Weekly (South Africa) >
< that peculiar taint of barbarism which makes men prefer occasional disobedience to systematic liberty — H.T.Buckle >
< preferred that excellence should thrive rather than be obscured by a many-voiced mediocrity >3. : to give (a creditor) priority
: pay (a creditor) before or rather than another
4. archaic : to put or set forward or before someone
: offer
,
present
,
recommend
,
introduce
5. : to bring or lay (as a charge, complaint, or indictment) against a person
< preferred charges against him >6. : to bring forward or lay before one for consideration, decision, or action
: propose
< the young man seems to be preferring some request which the elder one is indisposed to grant — Ambrose Bierce >7. : to show preference for (one of two or more card suits bid by one's partner)