From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpartypar‧ty1 /ˈpɑːti $ ˈpɑːrti/ ●●● S1 W1 noun (plural parties) [countable] 1 for funDL a social event when a lot of people meet together to enjoy themselves by eating, drinking, dancing etc We’re having a small party this evening to celebrate our wedding anniversary.throw/give a party The university threw a party to welcome them.go/come to a party Are you going to the party tonight?at a party I met John at a party a couple of months ago. the party spirit (=the way someone feels when they are really enjoying a party) → hen party, house party, stag party, party animal2 in politicsPPG a political organization with particular beliefs and aims, which you can vote for in elections I have always voted for the Labour Party. He failed to win the party’s nomination for president. The conference is open to all party members. → party line► see thesaurus at organization3 group of peopleGROUP OF PEOPLE a group of people who go somewhere together or do a job togetherparty of a party of tourists There were several students in our party. A search party was sent out to look for the missing climbers. a rescue party Admission is free for school parties. → working party► see thesaurus at groupGRAMMAR: Singular or plural verb?• In meanings 2 and 3, party is usually followed by a singular verb: The party has accepted the need for change.• In British English, you can also use a plural verb: The party have accepted the need for change.4 in an argument/lawSCLGROUP OF PEOPLE law or formal one of the people or groups who are involved in a legal argument or agreement helping the two parties to reach an agreementguilty/innocent party He sees himself as the innocent party in this dispute. → third party15 → be (a) party to somethingCOLLOCATIONS – Meaning 1: a social event when a lot of people meet together to enjoy themselves by eating, drinking, dancing etcverbshave a partyWe’re having a party on Saturday night.hold a partyThe party was held at his flat.throw/give a party (=organize it)Staff threw a party to celebrate the news.host a party (=give a large or formal party)The party was hosted by the Danish ambassador.go to/come to a party (also attend a party formal)Are you going to Tom’s party?About 500 people will attend a party in her honour.invite somebody to a partyI’ve been invited to Greg’s party next weekend.gatecrash a party (=go to it even though you have not been invited)Some older boys tried to gatecrash the party.a party is in full swing (=people at a party are having a good time talking, dancing etc)At 3 am, the party was still in full swing.there is a party going onSomewhere near the hotel there was a party going on.a party breaks up (=it ends and people go home)The party broke up a little after midnight.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + partya birthday partyThey met at her sister’s 18th birthday party.a Christmas/Halloween etc partyI hope you’re going to the office Christmas party.a big/small partyI don’t really like going to big parties.a dinner party (=one where people are invited to someone’s house for an evening meal)It’s a favorite topic of conversation at fashionable dinner parties these days.a cocktail party (=a fairly formal party, at which alcoholic drinks are served)I first met him at a cocktail party at the American embassy. a fancy dress party British English, a costume party American English (=one where people wear unusual clothes, for example so they look like someone from a story)She went to the fancy dress party as Snow White.an office partyI danced with my boss at the office party.a surprise partyAmy has planned a surprise party for his birthday.a farewell/leaving partyYou didn’t come to Ken’s farewell party, did you?a street party (=one held outside in a street)Thousands flocked to the street party on Princess Street to celebrate New Year.a lavish party (=one where a lot of money has been spent)He threw lavish parties for his celebrity friends.party + NOUNthe party spirit (=the way people feel when they are really enjoying a party)There’ll be plenty of free champagne to get the party spirit going.be in a party mood (=want to enjoy yourself at a party)Kate wasn’t really in a party mood, so she stayed home.party gamesThe children had great fun playing party games.a party dressThe little girls were wearing white party dresses.COMMON ERRORS ► Don’t say ‘make a party’ or ‘do a party’. Say have a party. COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 2: a political organization with particular beliefs and aims, which you can vote for in electionsADJECTIVES/NOUN + partya political partyThe Labour Party and the Conservative Party are the two main political parties in Britain.the Labour/Democratic etc PartyThe leadership race within the Republican Party is almost over.an opposition party (=a party that is not in power)The tax increase was criticized by opposition parties.the ruling party (=the party in power)The ruling party’s level of support grew throughout the year.a right-wing/left-wing partySupport for the right-wing parties was strongest among young working-class men.party + NOUNa party memberHe’s been a Conservative party member for 20 years.the party leaderHe met with opposition party leaders.a party candidate (=someone who represents a political party in an election)The seat was won by the Socialist Party candidate with 68% of the vote.the party faithful (=strong supporters of a party)His policies appeal to the party faithful.a party activist (=someone who works hard for a party)Campaign literature is distributed by unpaid party activists.party policy (=a political party’s official plan or position on important subjects)There has been a change in party policy.a party conferenceHe will give a speech at the Tory party conference this morning.the party chairman British EnglishHe resigned as Conservative party chairman.a party officialThe incident has angered senior party officials.verbsa party wins/loses an electionDo you think the Labour Party can win the next election?join a partyBloomfield joined the Communist Party in 1946.form/found a partyThe two politicians broke away from the PDF to form a new political party.phrasesa party is in powerFrom 1945 until 1951 the Labour Party was in power in Britain.a party comes to power (=begins to be the government)The ruling party came to power in May 2001. THESAURUSparty a social event when a lot of people meet together to enjoy themselves by eating, drinking, dancing etcWe’re having a party for Sarah’s 40th birthday.I met my boyfriend at a party.get-together an informal partyChristmas is the perfect time for a family get-together.ball a large formal party where people dancethe end of term ballrave a large party which is held outside or in an empty building, where people dance to music and take illegal drugsreception a large formal party, especially one after a wedding or to welcome an important personThe wedding reception is at a nearby hotel.a reception for the Thai Foreign MinisterThey attended a White House reception to mark the Queen’s visit.function a large formal or official partyHe has been asked to play at many corporate functions (=an official party held by a company).celebration a party or special event that is organized in order to celebrate somethingthe country’s 50th anniversary celebrationsIt was a 21st birthday celebration which Mary would never forget.bash informal a party, especially a big one that a lot of famous people go to – used especially in journalismthe star’s birthday basha picture of him at a Hollywood basha showbiz bashdo British English informal a partyWe’re having a do to celebrate Margaret’s birthday.dinner party a party where people are invited to someone’s house for an evening mealI met him at a dinner party.house-warming (party) a party that you have when you move into a new houseWe’re having a house-warming next week.cocktail party (also drinks party British English) a party that people go to in order to talk and have a drink together for a few hoursfancy-dress party British English, costume party American English a party where people dress in special clothes, for example to look like a famous person or a character in a storyhen party especially British English a social event just before a wedding, for a woman who is getting married and her female friendsstag night British English, bachelor party American English a social event just before a wedding, for a man who is getting married and his male friendsbaby/wedding shower American English an event at which people give presents to a woman who is going to have a baby or get married
Examples from the Corpus
party• We're having a party at my house. Do you want to come?• John was taking a party of tourists around the museum.• A party of Japanese businessmen will be visiting the factory next week.• All party members will have the right to vote for the new leader.• a birthday party• Both parties will meet again on Monday to discuss the contract.• Over a hundred children came to the annual Christmas party.• I went to a cocktail party in the lobby of the Ritz once.• He first joined the Communist party when he was a student.• I gave my first dinner party last weekend.• It wasn't exactly an exciting party, but the vice squad knocked on the door.• Foster, party of six, your table is ready.• Does he agree that none of that would be the case if the Labour party was in charge?• Save your energy at both dinner and luncheon parties.• Office parties are fun if you're young, free, and single.• All the major political parties have given their support to this initiative.• The Republican Party now has a majority in Congress.• the Republican Party• Did you go to Stella's party?• The climbers did not return, and a search party was sent out to look for them.• a search party• The President was followed around by a small party of journalists.• The hostess chose a color for dishes, linens, decorations and even food, which set the theme for the party.• It is easy to dismiss them as the strategic outpourings of a new recruit trying to impress the party machine.• How many people have they invited to the party?• The money is frozen in the hands of a third party and not paid out to either side.at a party• I suppose it's the same for people who used to pass joints around at parties.• You became a stand-in for your boss at parties and meetings.• He thought dipping at parties was perilous, to say the very least.• Reeltime is the stuff you bring up later, at parties, to the guffaws of your friends.• They smoke at parties and when they gather with friends at fast-food restaurants.• Over lunch and dinner tables, at parties, and in various informal groupings, the Labour revisionists decided what to do.• Hoarse from the final days of furious campaigning, Clinton celebrated his victory at a party with campaign staff on Thursday night.• When the accident happened at Chernobyl he was at a party meeting in Moscow.search party• When they did not return that night, Richard led a search party for them at first light the following morning.• I can't let him organize a search party.• A search party fanned the countryside.• A search party found him the next day, dead from exposure.• Thirteen men were missing and search parties were organised from amongst the trapped men and sent out to look for them.• The problem was making her presence known to any search party.• There's a couple of search parties organized.• I kept that up until dawn, when the search party returned, Esmerelda-less, then I let myself go to sleep.guilty/innocent party• Even innocent parties were excluded from court until 1887.• The Justice Department could not ask for damages or seek penalties against the guilty parties.• Yet economic mismanagement at home will often be the guiltier party. % % Rrrrrrrrecession?• The rest of the audience cranes its collective neck to spot the guilty party.• Some critics might favour the pragmatic solution of convicting both, to ensure that the guilty party does not escape justice.• How dared he act as though she were the guilty party?• The duty to mitigate does not apply where the innocent party refuses to accept the anticipatory breach as a repudiation.partyparty2 verb (partied, partying, parties) [intransitive] informalDLDF to enjoy yourself with a group of other people by drinking alcohol, eating, dancing etc Let’s party!→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
party• I just got paid and I'm ready to party.• Be safe, stay home and let professionals handle the partying.• I could party all night long!• On the other hand, she wants to party all the time.• Prefontaine was legendary for his ability to sweat out the damage done by partying in grueling training runs the next day.• They partied till 7 in the morning.From Longman Business Dictionarypartypar‧ty /ˈpɑːtiˈpɑːrti/ noun (plural parties) [countable]1LAW the people or group of people involved in a legal case, argument, agreement etcIt is difficult to obtain a ruling from the court if the other party contests (=officially disagrees with) the decision.copies of relevant correspondence between the parties2third partyLAW when two people are involved in a legal case, a third party is anyone who is not directly involved but might be affected by itTouche Ross was criticised for not allowing third parties to see their report.Switch from comprehensive tothird party insurance (=insurance covering anyone affected by an accident, as well as the person who takes out the insurance) if your car’s value has fallen.3an organization whose members share the same political beliefs and aims and which tries to get elected to government. The word ‘party’ is often used in the name of the organizationIndia’s Bharatiya Janata Party → see also concert party, working partyOrigin party1 (1200-1300) Old French partie “part, party”, from partir “to divide” 