Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Topic: COLLEGE

Date: 1500-1600
Language: French
Origin: Latin optio 'free choice'

option

 noun
     
op‧tion S1 W2
1

choice

[countable] a choice you can make in a particular situation:
There are a number of options available.
He had two options.
This was not the only option open to him.
option for
a range of options for cutting costs
one/another option is to do something
Another option is to rent somewhere for six months.
option of doing something
She had the option of staying for an extra year.
Teenage mothers often have no option but to (=have no other choice except to) live with their parents.
2

keep/leave your options open

to wait before making a decision:
I'm keeping all my options open for the moment.
3TD

computers

[countable]TD one of the possible choices you can make when using computer software:
Select an option from the main menu.
a list of options
4

easy option

also soft option British English the choice which will be the least difficult, least strict, or need the least effort, which someone might choose because they are lazy:
Is community service just a soft option for criminals?
5

right to buy/sell

[countable]BBBF formal the right to buy or sell something in the future
option on
The government has agreed to buy 20 planes, with an option on a further 10.
Connor now owns 302,000 shares and options.
6

at school/university

[countable] British EnglishSEC one of the subjects that you can choose to study at school for an examination, or as part of a course at a college or university:
advice on choosing your options
7

something additional

[countable] something that is offered in addition to the standard equipment when you buy something new, especially a car
8

first option

the chance to buy or get something before anyone else
first option on
They've agreed to give us the first option on their apartment.
Definition of option from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English within
the topic COLLEGE
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