Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary
pro·mote
\\prə-ˈmōt\\ transitive verb
(pro·mot·ed ; pro·mot·ing) ETYMOLOGY Middle English, from Latin promotus, past participle of promovēre, literally, to move forward, from pro- forward + movēre to move
DATE 14th century
1.
a. to advance in station, rank, or honor : raise
b. to change (a pawn) into a piece in chess by moving to the eighth rank
c. to advance (a student) from one grade to the next higher grade2.
a. to contribute to the growth or prosperity of : further
promote international understanding
b. to help bring (as an enterprise) into being : launch
c. to present (merchandise) for buyer acceptance through advertising, publicity, or discounting3. slang : to get possession of by doubtful means or by ingenuity
Synonyms: see advance
•
pro·mot·abil·i·ty \\-ˌmō-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē\\
noun
•
pro·mot·able \\-ˈmō-tə-bəl\\
adjective promote
1387, "to advance (someone) to a higher grade or office," from L. promotus, pp. of promovere "move forward, advance," from pro- "forward" + movere "to move" (see move). General sense of "to further the growth or progress of (anything)" is from 1515. Promoter "one who promotes" is from 1450; financial sense of "one who leads in forming a company" is from 1876; sense of "one who organizes sporting or entertainment events" is attested from 1936.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7
☞ promotepro·mote /
prE5mEut;
NAmE -5mout /
verb [VN]1. to help sth to happen or develop
促进；推动
SYN encourage
:
policies to promote economic growth 促进经济增长的政策
a campaign to promote awareness of environmental issues 提高环保意识的运动2. ~ sth (as sth) to help sell a product, service, etc. or make it more popular by advertising it or offering it at a special price
促销；推销:
The band has gone on tour to promote their new album. 这个乐队已开始巡回宣传他们的新唱片。
The area is being promoted as a tourist destination. 这个地区正被推广为旅游点。3. ~ sb (from sth) (to sth) [often passive] to move sb to a higher rank or more senior job
提升；晋升:
She worked hard and was soon promoted. 她工作勤奋,不久就得到提升了。
He has been promoted to sergeant. 他已晋升为巡佐。
OPP demote
4. ~ sth (from sth) (to sth) to move a sports team from playing with one group of teams to playing in a better group
将(体育运动队)晋级:
They were promoted to the First Division last season. 上个赛季他们晋升为甲级队。
OPP relegate
Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English
Oxford Collocations dictionary for students of Englishpromote
verb
1 encourage sth
ADV. strongly The idea of equal opportunities was strongly promoted by many Labour MPs. | actively, directly | indirectly | deliberately, intentionally They claimed that the authorities had deliberately promoted and condoned the violence.
VERB + PROMOTE aim to, seek to, try to | help (to) Basketball stars from the United States have helped promote the sport in Italy and Spain. | be designed to measures designed to promote economic growth | be likely to | serve to, tend to Bonus payments to staff serve to promote commitment to the company.
PREP. through Young people's awareness of agricultural issues is promoted through publicity material.
PHRASES be aimed at promoting sth, be widely promoted, a campaign/scheme to promote sth, efforts/measures to promote sth
2 advertise sth
ADV. aggressively, heavily The new products have been very heavily promoted. | widely
PREP. as The town is now being promoted as a holiday destination. | through The company's products have been promoted mainly through advertising in newspapers.
promote verb
⇨ promote (promote racial harmony)
⇨ advertise (promote a product)
Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged
pro·mote
\prəˈmōt,
usu -ōd.+V\
verb
(
-ed/-ing/-s)
Etymology: Latin
promotus, past participle of
promovēre to move forward, promote, from
pro- forward +
movēre to move — more at
pro-
,
move
transitive verb1.
a. : to advance in station, rank, or honor
: raise
— opposed to
demote
b. : to change (a pawn) into a piece by moving to the eighth rank
c. : to advance (a student) from one grade or class to the next usually at the end of an academic year or semester
2. obsolete
a. : to inform against
b. : to put forward (as a claim)
3. law : to institute (as a prosecution or suit) as a common informer, or as one permitted by the ordinary to inaugurate a criminal proceeding — used chiefly in the phrase
to promote the office of the ordinary4.
a. : to contribute to the growth, enlargement, or prosperity of
: further
,
encourage
< promote international understanding >
< the fixity of inheritance laws … promoted extreme jealousy among potential heirs — Ralph Linton >
b. : to bring or help to bring (as a business enterprise) into being
: launch
< promote a mining company >
< promote a prize fight >
c. : to present (merchandise) for public acceptance through advertising and publicity
d. : to increase the activity of (a catalyst) by adding a small percentage of another substance;
also : to accelerate (a reaction) by such an addition — opposed to
poison5. slang : to get possession of by doubtful means or by ingenuity
< see what he could promote by a little personal string pulling — J.G.Cozzens >
< able to promote a bottle of wine — R.M.Ingersoll >intransitive verb1. obsolete : to incite someone (as to strife)
2. obsolete : to inform against someone
3. : to become a queen or other piece in chess
< a pawn automatically promotes when it reaches the eighth rank >