Topic: TRADE
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| Date: | 1400-1500 |
| Origin: | custom; from the custom of doing business in a particular place |
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cus‧tom‧er S1 W1
[countable]
[countable]1BBT someone who buys goods or services from a shop, company etc : 
We aim to offer good value and service to all our customers.We've had several letters from satisfied customers.
We aim to offer good value and service to all our customers.We've had several letters from satisfied customers. best/biggest/largest customer (=the person or company who uses a shop or company the most)
2 someone who is difficult to deal with because they behave in a deliberately unhelpful way
awkward/tricky/tough etc customer
➔ cool customer
at cool1 (3)WORD CHOICE: WORD CHOICE:
customer, client, patron, shopper, consumerCustomer is the most general word. A customer is someone who buys something from a particular shop. People who pay to use something such as a transport service can also be called customers • A customer came in and bought several jackets. • Customers are advised that the next train is delayed. A client is someone who pays for a service • a hairdresser and her clients A patron of a particular restaurant, bar etc is someone who eats or drinks there. This is a fairly formal word and it is more usual to use customer • Patrons are asked to refrain from smoking. A shopper is someone who is involved in the activity of buying things from shops • The street was crowded with shoppers. A consumer is anyone who pays for goods and services. This word is used especially when you are talking about people's rights • Consumers have a right to know what they are buying.
WORD CHOICE: customer, client, patron, shopper, consumerCustomer is the most general word. A customer is someone who buys something from a particular shop. People who pay to use something such as a transport service can also be called customers • A customer came in and bought several jackets. • Customers are advised that the next train is delayed. A client is someone who pays for a service • a hairdresser and her clients A patron of a particular restaurant, bar etc is someone who eats or drinks there. This is a fairly formal word and it is more usual to use customer • Patrons are asked to refrain from smoking. A shopper is someone who is involved in the activity of buying things from shops • The street was crowded with shoppers. A consumer is anyone who pays for goods and services. This word is used especially when you are talking about people's rights • Consumers have a right to know what they are buying.
