- 1 [countable, usually plural] a product or service that is brought into one country from another food imports from abroad opposite export CollocationsThe economyManaging the economy handle/run/manage the economy boost investment/spending/employment/growth stimulate demand/the economy/industry cut/reduce investment/spending/borrowing reduce/curb/control/keep down inflation create/fuel growth/demand/a boom/a bubble encourage/foster/promote/stimulate/stifle innovation/competition encourage/work with/compete with the private sector increase/boost/promote US/agricultural exports ban/restrict/block cheap/foreign imports the economy grows/expands/shrinks/contracts/slows (down)/recovers/improves/is booming enjoy an economic/housing/property boomEconomic problems push up/drive up prices/costs/inflation damage/hurt/destroy industry/the economy cause/lead to/go into/avoid/escape recession experience/suffer a recession/downturn fight/combat inflation/deflation/unemployment cause/create inflation/poverty/unemployment create/burst a housing/stock market bubble cause/trigger a stock market crash/the collapse of the banking system face/be plunged into a financial/an economic crisis be caught in/experience cycles of boom and bustPublic finance cut/reduce/slash/increase/double the defence/(especially US English) defense/education/aid budget increase/boost/slash/cut public spending increase/put up/raise/cut/lower/reduce taxes raise/cut/lower/reduce interest rates ease/loosen/tighten monetary policy balance the (state/federal) budget achieve/maintain a balanced budget run a ($4 trillion) budget deficit/surplus politics, vote Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivemain, major, foreign, … verb + importboost, cut, limit, … import + verbgrow, increase, rise, … import + nounban, control, restrictions, … prepositionimport from, import into phrasesa ban on imports, a restriction on imports, the demand for imports, … See full entry See related entries: Economy
- 2 [uncountable, plural] the act of bringing a product or service into one country from another The report calls for a ban on the import of hazardous waste. import controls an import licence imports of oil opposite export Wordfindertradeboom, business, commerce, embargo, import, market, monopoly, sanction, tariff, trade Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivemain, major, foreign, … verb + importboost, cut, limit, … import + verbgrow, increase, rise, … import + nounban, control, restrictions, … prepositionimport from, import into phrasesa ban on imports, a restriction on imports, the demand for imports, … See full entry See related entries: Economy
- 3[uncountable] (formal) importance matters of great import
- 4the import (of something) [singular] (formal) the meaning of something, especially when it is not immediately clear It is difficult to understand the full import of this statement. Word Originlate Middle English (in the sense ‘signify’): from Latin importare ‘bring in’ (in medieval Latin ‘imply, mean, be of consequence’), from in- ‘in’ + portare ‘carry’.Extra examples A restricted import quota was set for meat products. America has cut its oil imports from the Middle East by 73%. Imports of foodstuffs accounted for a small proportion of total imports. Imports were valued at £516 million last month. Most of their oil revenues are used to finance imports of consumer and capital goods. Special duties were imposed on imports into the republic. The government decided to prohibit the import of toxic waste. The industry aims both to increase exports and replace imports. The value of annual imports rose rapidly. greater import penetration of the domestic market parallel imports of brand name drugs from Spain into other countries pressure on the government to stimulate the faltering economy and boost imports rising import prices the UK’s net imports of food
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