Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

pay

2 noun
     
NEW! See related topics: WAGES
pay2 S1 W2 [uncountable]
1BEW money that you are given for doing your jobCOLLOCATIONS COLLOCATIONS
low pay equal pay rate of pay pay and conditions basic pay British English base pay American English (=not including overtime pay or bonuses) overtime pay (=for extra hours that you work) take-home pay (=after tax etc has been taken away) holiday pay British English vacation pay American English (=when you are on holiday) sick pay (=when you are ill) maternity pay (=when a woman is having a baby) pay increase pay rise British English pay raise American English pay cut on full pay (=being paid a whole salary)
Nurses often work long hours for low pay.
The idea of equal pay for women is a recent phenomenon.
Miners have traditionally enjoyed high rates of pay.
a minimum rate of pay
Unions are pushing for better pay and conditions.
Teachers were awarded a 6% pay rise.
They were asked to accept a 4% pay cut.
He was suspended on full pay until the hearing.
2

in the pay of somebody

written someone who is in someone else's pay is working for them, often secretly:
an informer in the pay of the police
WORD CHOICE WORD CHOICE

pay, salary, wages, wage, income, feePay is the money that you earn by working • The pay is much better in the private sector. • people on low pay • pay negotiations Someone's salary is the money they are paid every month by their employer, especially someone in a profession, such as a teacher or a lawyer • Some managers earn annual salaries of over £80,000. Use wages to refer to the money that someone is paid every week by their employer, especially someone who works in a factory or a shop • Some companies pay higher wages than others. !! Do not use wages before a noun. Use wage • wage earners Someone's income is all the money that they receive regularly, for work or for any other reason • families on low incomes • Rent from the old farm was their only source of income. Use fee to refer to the money paid to a lawyer, doctor, or similar qualified worker for a piece of work they have done • Your accountant's fees are too high. • legal fees
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
 
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