From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishmethodmeth‧od /ˈmeθəd/ ●●● S1 W1 AWL noun 1 [countable]WAY/METHOD a planned way of doing something, especially one that a lot of people know about and use traditional teaching methods I think we should try again using a different method.method of/for (doing) something Today’s methods of birth control make it possible for a couple to choose whether or not to have a child. effective methods for the storage and retrieval of informationRegisterIn everyday English, people usually say a way of doing something rather than a method of doing something:a secure way of storing information► see thesaurus at way2 [uncountable] formalWAY/METHOD a well-organized and well-planned way of doing something There’s no method in the way they do their accounts.3 → there’s method in/to somebody’s madnessCOLLOCATIONSverbsuse a method (also employ a method formal)Which payment method do you use when travelling?adopt a method (=start using a new method)Quite a few companies adopted Japanese business methods.devise a method (=invent a method)Scientists have devised a method of recycling contaminated oil.outline a method (=describe a method in a few words)This leaflet outlines the methods that are available to you.adjectiveseffective/efficient (=giving the result you want)Some methods are more effective than others.reliable (=likely to give the result you want)We need a more reliable method of predicting earthquakes.suitableNo single method is suitable for all occasions.a teaching methodNeill had considerable influence over modern teaching methods.a farming methodFarming methods have changed a lot over the last 100 years.the usual methodThe usual method of investing in a company is by buying shares in it.the traditional method (=the usual method)Farmers are being encouraged to return to more traditional methods of farming.modern methods (=methods used now, but not in the past)Modern methods of solving crime depend a lot on forensic evidence.the scientific method (=the usual way of finding out information in science, which involves testing ideas in experiments)It is sometimes difficult to apply the scientific method to subjects such as sociology or psychology.an alternative method (=a method that is different than the usual one)Try to use alternative methods of transport, such as cycling or taking the bus. THESAURUSmethod a way of doing something, especially one that is well known and often usedYou can choose whichever method of payment you prefer.an environmentally friendly method for treating household wasteway a set of actions that you use in order to do something. Way is more informal than method and is used more often in everyday EnglishWhat’s the best way to remove wine stains?a new way of treating the disease There are lots of ways of cooking mushrooms.means something that you use to do something or achieve somethingTheir main means of transport is their car.E-mail is often the most convenient means of communication.He looked around for a means of escape.Education and training are the most efficient means of improving the nation’s economy.approach a way of dealing with a particular problem or situation, especially a way that has been carefully thought about or plannedToday’s approach to raising children is very different from 40 years ago.I think we need to try a different approach.technique a particular way of doing something, for which you need a skill that has to be learned and practisedtips on how to improve your exam techniqueMore patients are surviving thanks to improved surgical techniques.tactics methods that you use in order to achieve what you want, especially in a game or competitionThere were complaints about police tactics used to clear demonstrators.The team was discussing tactics for the game.strategy a set of carefully planned methods for achieving something that is difficult and may take a long timeour sales strategya strategy to reduce the level of teenage smokingmode formal a particular way of doing somethingFor him, painting is just another mode of expression.You can choose between several different modes of operation.the most efficient mode of transportationWithdrawing a child from class is still the preferred mode of providing extra help to that child.
Examples from the Corpus
method• He had found a method of neutralising MacDonald's most effective political quality - his inspirational personal presence.• Excellent reader on the main theories and methods of political science.• He didn't seem to have any method in the way he approached the problem.• Make a list of the different methods you could use in conducting a survey.• an environmentally-friendly method for treating household waste• In a sense we have already gone too far with the boy, exposed too many of our methods.• One of the preferred methods for estimating usual dietary intakes of individuals is the diet history questionnaire.• Printing methods have changed completely in the last twenty years.• Medical science has not yet found a satisfactory method of treating cholera.• Expand the use of Sentinel Surveillance Networks to complement other surveillance methods for detecting and monitoring emerging infections.• In this school, staff are given complete freedom in their choice of language teaching methods.• The flow accompanying this method is illustrated in figure 3 opposite.• But what students gain from this method is how to be individualists, not individuals.• A really pro-active job-search campaign must include all three methods.• You can choose whichever method of payment you prefer.method of/for (doing) something• The object is to design and create a mural panel with the theme of the environment and methods of conservation.• Already many of the remaining noble landowners were developing modern capitalist methods of farming their estates.• She practiced the Sister Kenny method of muscle reeducation, working even with the muscles that appeared to have lost all function.• A simple problem-orientated method of assessment can facilitate both management and communication between start members.• A second and rather more surprising method of managed information-flows is know how trading.• For the snail genes the method of leaving is via snail sperms or eggs.• The methods of collecting data are different.• The Bank has not given a formal ruling on this method of presentation from a capital adequacy perspective.From Longman Business Dictionarymethodmeth‧od /ˈmeθəd/ noun [countable] a planned way of doing something, especially one that a lot of people usemethod ofIt is best to consider all methods of figuring your annual income tax before deciding on any one option.method forA buy-and-try policy is a suitable method for examining new convenience products. → ABC method → declining balance method → depreciation method → straight line methodOrigin method (1400-1500) Latin methodus, from Greek methodos, from meta- ( → META-) + hodos “way” 