- purpose
- noun1 aim/functionADJECTIVE▪ limited▪ chief, main, primary, prime, principal▪ true▪ sole▪ whole▪ original▪ practical, useful▪
These bars serve no useful purpose.
▪ legitimate▪ general▪a general-purpose cleaning fluid
▪ common▪a group of individuals sharing a common purpose
▪ particular, special, specific▪ dual▪a toy with the dual purpose of entertaining and developing memory skills
▪ intended, stated▪ social▪the view that art should serve a social purpose
VERB + PURPOSE▪ have▪ lack▪ accomplish, achieve, fulfil/fulfill, serve, suit▪The plan achieved its primary purpose, if nothing else.
▪The article could serve the purpose of generating some discussion.
▪In my view such debates serve no useful purpose.
▪ defeat▪Computer-animated cartoons that depict humans realistically seem to defeat the whole purpose of animation.
PREPOSITION▪ for a/the purpose▪I put the chair there for a purpose.
▪a measure introduced for the purpose of protecting the interests of investors
▪ on purpose (= intentionally)▪He slammed the door on purpose.
PHRASES▪ at cross purposes (= not understanding or having the same aims, etc. as each other)▪I finally realized that we were talking at cross purposes.
▪ for the express purpose of sth, with the express purpose of sth▪The school was founded with the express purpose of teaching deaf children to speak.
▪ for (all) practical purposes▪Nominally she is the secretary, but for all practical purposes she runs the place.
▪ your purpose in life▪She saw being a doctor as her purpose in life.
▪ put sth to (a/some) purpose▪The same information can be put to many purposes
▪ a sense of purpose▪Encouraged by her example, they all set to work with a fresh sense of purpose.
▪ strength of purpose▪They had great confidence and strength of purpose.
2 purposes requirements of a particular situationADJECTIVE▪ administrative, business, commercial, domestic, educational, insurance, legal, medical, medicinal, political, research, tax, teaching, training▪You will need to have the vehicle valued for insurance purposes.
▪ comparative▪For comparative purposes, the populations of three other cities are also shown.
PREPOSITION▪ for … purpose▪The drug can be sold for medicinal purposes only.
▪ for the purposes of (also for the purpose of in AmE)▪Let's assume he knows, for the purposes of our argument.
Collocations dictionary. 2013.
