From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishimportim‧port1 /ˈɪmpɔːt $ -ɔːrt/ ●●○ noun 1 [countable, uncountable]PEBUY a product that is brought from one country into another so that it can be sold there, or the business of doing this OPP export a ban on beef imports the abolition of import duties (=taxes)import from cheap imports from Asia American demand for Japanese imports (=goods from Japan) the import of electrical goods► see thesaurus at product2 [countable] something new or different that is brought to a place where it did not previously exist The beetle is thought to be a European import.3 [uncountable] formal importance or meaning → significance a matter of no great importCOLLOCATIONSADJECTIVES/NOUN + imports foreign importsForeign imports into Britain continued to grow in the 1970s.cheap importsFarmers are complaining about cheap imports flooding the market.Japanese/French etc imports (=goods from Japan, France etc)Japanese imports rose by 5% last year.oil/coal/food importsThe country is dependent on oil imports for almost all its basic energy needs.rice/sugar etc importsThere is pressure on the country to reduce its rice imports.agricultural importsRestrictions on agricultural imports remain in place.essential importsThe country had problems paying for its essential imports.luxury importsHigher duties were placed on luxury imports.verbsincrease importsThe company increased imports in order to cut domestic production costs.reduce/cut importsNew investment will reduce imports and save jobs.control/restrict imports (=reduce or put a limit on them)The scheme aims to control imports of cheap goods.ban imports (=make them illegal)The organization wants the government to ban imports of exotic birds.imports increase/rise/growImports increased by 13 percent last year.imports fall/dropImports of consumer goods fell sharply in December.import + NOUNan import banThe US imposed an import ban on several types of fish.import restrictions/controls (=laws which reduce or limit the amount of imports)Severe import controls were introduced.import quotas (=limits on the number of imports allowed)Each country introduced its own import quotas.import taxes/duties/tariffsThe US imposed huge import duties on products from Europe.
Examples from the Corpus
import• Of classical style this piece was certainly an import and it reveals the high quality of the Roman art form.• Similarly, archaeologists can use exports and imports of objects to extend chronological linkages by means of cross-dating.• Similarly, a change in taxation and autonomous changes in consumption, savings and imports will also affect national income.• By contrast, both imports and exports are expected to grow at a similar rate.• California small-car buyers tend to buy imports.• a matter of little import• Under such conditions, what one group considers of value and of import may not necessarily have similar meaning for the others.• Oil imports have risen recently.• Oil exporters, as noted, had to cut their imports and thus, perhaps, aggravated the world recession.import duties• In addition, import duties were levied on wines.• To pay for the outlay the federal government would increase customs and import duties.• At the time, the country hiked import duties, imposed exchange-rate controls and nationalized the banks.• Business is also booming in the Far East, though Hong Kong suffered from higher costs and increased import duties.• The final blow for many firms was the government's abolition of import duties which resulted in a flood of cheap imports.• Part of the reason for this recovery has been the reduction of import duties on foreign paper.• Other import duties fell on sugar, tobacco, timber, silk, iron bars and, in some years, grain.importim·port2 /ɪmˈpɔːt $ -ɔːrt/ ●●○ verb [transitive] 1 PEBUYto bring a product from one country into another so that it can be sold there OPP export In 2001, Britain exported more cars than it imported.import something from something All the meat is imported from France.2 to introduce something new or different in a place where it did not previously exist The unusual designs were probably imported from Iran.import something to/into something The US comedy format was gradually imported to UK screens.3 TDto move information from one computer to another OPP exportimport something from/into something You can now import graphics from other applications. —imported adjective imported autos imported data→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
import• Cecil had imported a tribe of Bedouins to the site to play the spectacular scenes.• King felt that importing additional slaves would make national defense more difficult and costly.• Wood for the project will be imported from China.• Most of the wines served in this restaurant are imported from France.• These are made mainly of grain, much of which is imported from other parts of the world.• There are new integrated editors for digitised sound play and editing - sound can be imported from Windows or AdLib files.• The United States has to import some of its oil.From Longman Business Dictionaryimportim‧port1 /ˈɪmpɔːt-ɔːrt/ noun1[countable usually plural]COMMERCE something that is made in one country and brought into another, usually in order to be sold thereThe shops are full of cheap imports.2[countable usually plural, uncountable]COMMERCE the activity of bringing goods into a countrySYNIMPORTATIONimport ofUS regulations on the import of four-wheel drive vehiclesa ban on imports of exotic birdsA slowdown in Japan’s domestic economy led to a sharp decline in imports of luxury cars.3imports [plural]ECONOMICS the amount or value of the goods brought into a country over a particular period of timeWith a strong dollar, US exports will continue to decline and imports will rise. → parallel imports → visible importsimportim‧port2 /ɪmˈpɔːt-ɔːrt/ verb [transitive]1COMMERCEto bring something into a country from abroad, usually in order to sell itWe must reduce the country’s dependence on imported oil.import something from somethingBees were imported from Africa in an effort to improve honey production.import something into somethingThese raw materials are all imported into Korea, as there are no local producers.2COMPUTING to move information from one computer or software program into anotherYou can either type your data into this form or you can import data from a spreadsheet.→ See Verb tableOrigin import2 (1400-1500) Latin importare, from portare “to carry” 