supplysupply2 noun (plural supplies)1[countableC]COMMERCEECONOMICS an amount of something that is available to be sold, bought, used etcThe quality of the locallabour supply has helped to keep his company growing.
One-quarter of the nation’soil supply is shipped via the pipeline.
Coal inventories at the end of March were 390,000 metric tons, a 14-day supply.
During times of rapid growth demand for aircraft maintenance resources also tends to outstrip supply.
→ inelastic supply2be in short supply if something is in short supply, very little of it is availablePricing information is in short supply because computer makers don’t like to talk about the latest trends.
The building projects are behind schedule and construction materials in desperately short supply.
3water/gas/electricity etc supply a system that provides water, gas etcThepublic water supply company said the charge was related to its environmental testing laboratory.
→ see also money supply 4[uncountableU]COMMERCE the act of supplying somethingsupply ofThere were some difficulties in the supply of raw materials.