ecol|ogy / I kɒ lədʒi/ (ecologies )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Ecology is the study of the relationships between plants, animals, people, and their environment, and the balances between these relationships. □ …a senior lecturer in ecology.
2 N‑VAR When you talk about the ecology of a place, you are referring to the pattern and balance of relationships between plants, animals, people, and the environment in that place. □ [+ of ] …the ecology of the rocky Negev desert in Israel.
e -co mmerce N‑UNCOUNT E-commerce is the same as e-business . [BUSINESS ] □ …the anticipated explosion of e-commerce.
eco|nom|ic ◆◆◆ /iː kənɒ m I k, e k-/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Economic means concerned with the organization of the money, industry, and trade of a country, region, or society. □ …Poland's radical economic reforms. □ The pace of economic growth is picking up. ● eco|nomi|cal|ly /iː kənɒ m I kli, e k-/ ADV [ADV adj/-ed, ADV after v] □ …an economically depressed area. □ Economically and politically, this affair couldn't come at a worse time.
2 ADJ If something is economic , it produces a profit. □ The new system may be more economic but will lead to a decline in programme quality. SYNONYMS economic ADJ 1
financiaclass="underline" The company is in financial difficulties.
fiscaclass="underline" …in 1987, when the government tightened fiscal policy.
monetary: Some countries tighten monetary policy to avoid inflation.
budgetary: There are budgetary pressures on all governments to reduce their armed forces.
eco|nomi|cal /iː kənɒ m I k ə l, e k-/
1 ADJ [oft ADJ to-inf] Something that is economical does not require a lot of money to operate. For example a car that only uses a small amount of petrol is economical . □ …plans to trade in their car for something smaller and more economical. □ It is more economical to wash a full load. ● eco|nomi|cal|ly ADV [ADV after v] □ Services could be operated more efficiently and economically.
2 ADJ Someone who is economical spends money sensibly and does not want to waste it on things that are unnecessary. A way of life that is economical does not need a lot of money. □ …ideas for economical housekeeping.
3 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] Economical means using the minimum amount of time, effort, or language that is necessary. □ His gestures were economical, his words generally mild.
eco|nom|ics ◆◇◇ /iː kənɒ m I ks, e k-/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Economics is the study of the way in which money, industry, and trade are organized in a society. □ He gained a first class Honours degree in economics.
2 → see also home economics
3 N‑UNCOUNT The economics of a society or industry is the system of organizing money and trade in it. □ [+ of ] …the economics of the third world. SYNONYMS economics NOUN 1
finance: …a major player in the world of high finance.
commerce: They have made their fortunes from industry and commerce.
eco no|mies of sca le N‑PLURAL Economies of scale are the financial advantages that a company gains when it produces large quantities of products. [BUSINESS ] □ Car firms are desperate to achieve economies of scale.
econo|mist ◆◇◇ / I kɒ nəm I st/ (economists ) N‑COUNT An economist is a person who studies, teaches, or writes about economics.
econo|mize / I kɒ nəma I z/ (economizes , economizing , economized ) in BRIT, also use economise VERB If you economize , you save money by spending it very carefully. □ [V ] We're going to have to economize from now on. □ [V + on ] Hollywood has been talking about economizing on movie budgets.
econo|my ◆◆◆ / I kɒ nəmi/ (economies )
1 N‑COUNT An economy is the system according to which the money, industry, and trade of a country or region are organized. □ Zimbabwe boasts Africa's most industrialised economy.
2 N‑COUNT A country's economy is the wealth that it gets from business and industry. □ The Japanese economy grew at an annual rate of more than 10 per cent.
3 N‑UNCOUNT Economy is the use of the minimum amount of money, time, or other resources needed to achieve something, so that nothing is wasted. □ …improvements in the fuel economy of cars.
4 N‑COUNT [usu pl] If you make economies , you try to save money by not spending money on unnecessary things. □ They will make economies by hiring fewer part-time workers.
5 ADJ [ADJ n] Economy services such as travel are cheap and have no luxuries or extras.
6 → see economy class
7 ADJ [ADJ n] Economy is used to describe large packs of goods which are cheaper than normal-sized packs. □ …an economy pack containing 150 assorted screws.
8 PHRASE If you describe an attempt to save money as a false economy , you mean that you have not saved any money as you will have to spend a lot more later. □ A cheap bed can be a false economy. COLLOCATIONS economy NOUN 1
noun + economy : market, world
adjective + economy : fragile, weak, dynamic, healthy, strong; advanced, capitalist, emerging; domestic, global, local, regional
verb + economy : boost, revive, stimulate, strengthen
eco no|my class ADJ [ADJ n] On an aeroplane, an economy class ticket or seat is the cheapest available. □ The price includes two economy class airfares from Brisbane to Los Angeles.