Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary
pro·vide
\\prə-ˈvīd\\ verb
(pro·vid·ed ; pro·vid·ing) ETYMOLOGY Middle English, from Latin providēre, literally, to see ahead, from pro- forward + vidēre to see — more at pro-
, wit
DATE 15th century
intransitive verb1. to take precautionary measures
provide for the common defense — U.S. Constitution2. to make a proviso or stipulation
the Constitution…provides for an elected two-chamber legislature — Current Biography3. to make preparation to meet a need
provide for entertainmentespecially : to supply something for sustenance or support
provides for the poortransitive verb1. archaic : to prepare in advance
2.
a. to supply or make available (something wanted or needed)
provided new uniforms for the band
also : afford
curtains provide privacy
b. to make something available to
provide the children with free balloons3. to have as a condition : stipulate
the contract provides that certain deadlines will be met provide
1407, from L. providere "look ahead, prepare, supply," from pro- "ahead" + videre "to see" (see vision).
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7
☞ providepro·vide /
prE5vaid /
verb1. [VN] ~ sb (with sth) |
~ sth (for sb) to give sth to sb or make it available for them to use
提供；供应；给予
SYN supply
:
The hospital has a commitment to provide the best possible medical care. 这家医院承诺要提供最好的医疗服务。
We are here to provide a service for the public. 我们来这里是为公众服务。
We are here to provide the public with a service. 我们来这里是为公众服务。
Please answer questions in the space provided. 请在留出的空白处答题。
The report was not expected to provide any answers. 不要指望这个报告能提供什么答案。2. [V that] (
formal) (of a law or rule 法律或规则) to state that sth will or must happen
规定
SYN stipulate
:
The final section provides that any work produced for the company is thereafter owned by the company. 最后一节规定,此后为公司创作的一切作品均为本公司所有。⇨ see also
provision
PHRASAL VERBS ▪ pro'vide against sth (
formal)
to make preparations to deal with sth bad or unpleasant that might happen in the future
预防；防备▪ pro'vide for sb
to give sb the things that they need to live, such as food, money and clothing
提供生活所需▪ pro'vide for sth (
formal)
1. to make preparations to deal with sth that might happen in the future
为…做好准备2. (of a law, rule, etc. 法律、规定等) to make it possible for sth to be done
作出规定；使有据可依；使可以做:
The legislation provides for the detention of suspected terrorists for up to eight days. 法律规定,对嫌疑恐怖分子最多可拘留七天。 Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English
Oxford Collocations dictionary for students of Englishprovide
verb
ADV. kindly a buffet supper, kindly provided by club members | free (of charge) Careers advice is provided free of charge.
VERB + PROVIDE be able to, can/could | aim to, seek to, try to trying to provide the best possible medical care | fail to | be designed to, be intended to The scheme was intended to provide financial help to unemployed workers. | be expected to, be likely/unlikely to The report was not expected to provide any answers.
PREP. for providing food and shelter for the refugees | with He provided us with a lot of useful information.
Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged
pro·vide
\prəˈvīd, prōˈ-\
verb
(
-ed/-ing/-s)
Etymology: Middle English
providen, from Latin
providēre, to foresee, provide, provide for, from
pro- before, forward +
vidēre to see — more at
pro-
,
wit
intransitive verb1.
a. : to take precautionary measures
: make provision — used with
against or
for
< provide against an inflationary economy >
< provide for the common defense — U.S. Constitution >
b. obsolete : to make ready
: make preparation
< men … providing to live another time — Alexander Pope >2. : to make a proviso or stipulation
< provided for the adoption of collective measures — Vera M. Dean >3. : to supply what is needed for sustenance or support
< the Lord will provide >
< we'll have to provide for him — Ellen Glasgow >transitive verb1. archaic : to procure in advance
: get ready beforehand
: prepare
< provide us all things necessary — Shakespeare >2.
a. : to fit out or fit up
: equip
— used with
with
< provided the children with the books they needed >
< provide the car with a radio >
b. : to supply for use
: afford
,
yield
< olives … provide an important item of food — W.B.Fisher >
< the preface … provides a hint — L.R.McColvin >3. : stipulate
< the contract provides that the work be completed by a given date >4. obsolete : to appoint to an ecclesiastical benefice especially before it is vacant
Synonyms:
supply
,
furnish
:
provide
and
supply
are often interchangeable.
provide
may suggest equipping, stocking, or giving in the interest of preparing with foresight
< to provide for one's wife and children >
< provide the safeguard we need against the abuse of mankind's scientific genius for destructive ends — Vera M. Dean >
< to provide military aid and missions for friendly countries — Current Biography >
supply
may apply to providing what is needed, sometimes to making up a deficiency, replacing losses or depletions, filling a gap
< the book would be incomplete without some such discussion as I have tried to supply — W.R.Inge >
< an age which supplied the lack of moral habits by a system of moral attitudes and poses — T.S.Eliot >
< doctors or others supplying medical care to assistance recipients — Americana Annual >
furnish
, also often interchangeable with
provide
and
supply
, may sometimes apply to equipping or giving something needed in a particular situation
< the first attempt in history to furnish the international society of nations with a permanent and organic system of international political institutions — P.J.Noel-Baker > < our failure, he believes, is not a failure to furnish education for the average — College English >