Note: The translation for this entry is currently under quality review. Some content is temporarily displayed in English only.
supply
The word centers on the concept of availability and replenishment. It evokes an image of a reservoir or a pipeline—something that flows from a source to a point of need. As a noun, it often carries a systemic or logistical connotation. While 'stock' refers to items sitting on a shelf, 'supply' often implies the total amount available within a system (e.g., 'money supply') or the act of keeping that stock replenished. As a verb, it is more formal and clinical than 'give'. It suggests a structured arrangement or a professional obligation to provide necessities. When used metaphorically to 'fill a gap', it implies a corrective action, where one element compensates for a deficiency in another.
Uncountable when referring to the total available quantity of a resource ('the water supply is low'). Countable when referring to specific items or stockpiles of materials, often used in the plural ('school supplies' like pens and paper).
💬Conversación Casual
I'm literally hitting a wall. I need an emergency caffeine supply asap.
Just pivot your energy flow, kiddo. I'll Venmo you for a latte.
Meanings
An amount of something that is available for use.
"The city has a limited water supply during the summer months."
A stock of necessary materials, usually for a specific purpose.
"The medical team checked their emergency supply of bandages."
To provide someone or something with something that is needed.
"The company supplies electricity to over ten thousand homes."