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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | sceoppa 'stall' |
1 a building or part of a building where you can buy things, food, or services [= store American English] 
a barber's shopa fish-and-chip shop the local shops Shirley saw her reflection in the shop window.
place where you buy things
[countable] especially British Englisha barber's shopa fish-and-chip shopthe local shopsShirley saw her reflection in the shop window.2 a place where something is made or repaired : a bicycle repair shop ➔ shop floor, shop steward
place which makes/repairs things
[countable]TIFa bicycle repair shop3 a subject taught in schools that shows students how to use tools and machinery to make or repair things
school subject
also shop class [uncountable] American EnglishSES5 to close a shop or business, either temporarily or permanently
shut up shop
British English close up shop American English informalBB6 to talk about things that are related to your work, especially in a way that other people find boring : I'm fed up with you two talking shop. ➔ shop talk
talk shop
informalI'm fed up with you two talking shop.7
all over the shop
British English spokena) scattered around untidily : There were bits of paper all over the shop.
There were bits of paper all over the shop.b) confused and disorganized : I'm all over the shop this morning.
I'm all over the shop this morning.8 an occasion when you go shopping, especially for food and other things you need regularly :
go shopping
[singular] British English spokenWORD CHOICE: 
WORD CHOICE:
shop, store In British English, shop is the usual word and store is sometimes used to mean a very large shop where many different kinds of things are sold, for example a large supermarket or department store • They live opposite a row of shops. • This item is available in our London store. In American English, store is the usual word and shop is sometimes used to mean a small store that sells one type of goods • Will you go to the store for me? • a card shop In British English, you can talk about the shops • I'm going to the shops - do you want anything? But speakers of American English never say 'the stores'.
WORD CHOICE: shop, store In British English, shop is the usual word and store is sometimes used to mean a very large shop where many different kinds of things are sold, for example a large supermarket or department store • They live opposite a row of shops. • This item is available in our London store. In American English, store is the usual word and shop is sometimes used to mean a small store that sells one type of goods • Will you go to the store for me? • a card shop In British English, you can talk about the shops • I'm going to the shops - do you want anything? But speakers of American English never say 'the stores'.
