option

Word family

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++

Related topics: Computers, Business basics, Finance, College

op·tion /ˈɒpʃən $ ˈɑːp-/ S1 W2 AWL noun 1 choice 选择 [countable]CHOOSE a choice you can make in a particular situation 选择；可选择的东西 → optional There are a number of options available. 有多种选择。 He had two options. 他有两种选择。 This was not the only option open to him. 这并非是他的唯一选择。option for a range of options for cutting costs 一系列可降低成本的选择方案one/another option is to do something Another option is to rent somewhere for six months. 另一个选择是在哪里租六个月。option of doing something She had the option of staying for an extra year. 她可以选择再逗留一年。 Teenage mothers often have no option but to (=have no other choice except to) live with their parents. 少女妈妈往往别无选择，只能与父母同住。2 keep/leave your options open DECIDEto wait before making a decision 暂不作决定，留有选择余地 I’m keeping all my options open for the moment. 目前我暂时不作任何决定。3 computers 计算机 [countable]TD one of the possible choices you can make when using computer software 〔使用计算机程序时的〕选项，选择 Select an option from the main menu. 从主菜单上选一项。 a list of options 一列选项4 easy option (also soft option British English)EASY the choice which will be the least difficult, least strict, or need the least effort, which someone might choose because they are lazy 容易[轻松]的选择 Is community service just a soft option for criminals? 社区服务是否只是罪犯的一个轻松的选择？5 right to buy/sell 购买/出售的权利 [countable]BBBF formal the right to buy or sell something in the future 〔将来的〕买卖选择权利option on The government has agreed to buy 20 planes, with an option on a further 10. 政府已同意购买20架飞机，并拥有再买10架的选择权。 Connor now owns 302,000 shares and options. 康纳现在拥有302,000份股份和期权。6 at school/university 在学校/大学 [countable] British EnglishSEC one of the subjects that you can choose to study at school for an examination, or as part of a course at a college or university 选修课 advice on choosing your options 对选择选修课的建议7. STH additional 附加的某物 [countable]ADD something that is offered in addition to the standard equipment when you buy something new, especially a car 〔购买新设备，尤其是汽车时提供的〕附件，配件8 first option FIRSTthe chance to buy or get something before anyone else 优先权first option on They’ve agreed to give us the first option on their apartment. 他们同意给予我们那套房子的优先购买权。n COLLOCATIONSverbshave an optionAt the moment, children have the option of leaving school at 16.In a situation like this, you have two options.give/offer somebody an optionSome employees were given the option of retiring early.Buyers will usually be offered the option of paying in instalments.choose an optionFewer women are choosing the option of motherhood.go for an option (=choose an option)Which option do you think they'll go for?take (up) an option (=choose an option )America was persuaded not to take up the option of military action. look at an option (=consider an option)You have to look at every option as your business develops.limit your options (=limit what you can choose to do)If you don’t go to college, it may limit your options.adjectivesa good/better optionRenting a house may be a better option than buying.an attractive option (=one that sounds or is good)If time is short, taking the car to northern France is an attractive option.a realistic/real/serious option (=something that you can really choose to do)I wanted to start my own business but financially it was never a realistic option.a viable/practical option (=something you can choose that will be successful)Surgery may be a viable option when all else fails.a popular optionIndependent sixth-form colleges are becoming a popular option.a cheap optionWe urgently need to find a cheaper option than oil or gas.a safe option (=one that involves no risk)A special savings account can be a safe option.somebody’s preferred option formal (=the option someone likes best)The new scheme appears to be the airport management’s preferred option.an easy option (also a soft option British English) (=a choice which is not difficult, or which needs the least effort)For most people, divorce is never an easy option.phrasesan option is open/available to somebody (=a particular choice is available to someone)Giving a prison sentence is only one of the options open to the judge.keep/leave your options open (=to not limit what you can choose to do later)Studying a broad range of subjects helps to keep your options open.have no/little option but to do something (=have no other choice than to do something)I had no option but to fire him.a range of optionsThe council is considering a range of options for improving the city’s transport system.

Examples from the Corpus

option• Leather seats are an option on the Toyota Camry.• Joining the military seemed like the best option at the time.• Working full-time may not be your best option.• Where these materials have to be cleaned methylene chloride is the only chemical option once items are soiled.• The Corrado also has a multi-function computer, while the Calibra has a no-cost option of metallic paint.• Murray pocketed $ 2,971, including options, and Kennedy won merchandise and $ 200 in options money.• I haven't signed any contracts yet - I want to keep my options open.• These people have no option but to take low paid unattractive work.• As for replacement fuels, many people do not like to contemplate the nuclear option.• He pointed out that a design could be drawn using one option and knitted using another.• Our only option now is to contact the police.• What other options do I have?• Press "P" to select the print option.• Among the options now under consideration, White House officials said, were a restoration of those earlier restrictions.• If the invitation says black tie optional, take the option.• He basically has two options: he can have the surgery, or he can give up playing football.have no option but to• Without the advantage of mobile clearinghouse personnel, the majority of clearinghouses have no option but to adopt this method.• Meanwhile farmers have no option but to fork out the ever-increasing premiums that insurers are demanding.• The discount houses have no option but to repay.• Smaller outfits with regional services or niche products will naturally have no option but to go for a cheaper solution.• The club now have no option but to dispense with his services.• The fact is that we have no option but to raise salaries.• We have no option but to modernise.• We have no option but to see it as movement from left to right.option on• After two years with the firm, employees are given an option on 100 shares of stock.From Longman Business Dictionaryoptionop‧tion /ˈɒpʃənˈɑːp-/ noun [countable]1a choice between two or more possible things, for example productsChoosing between the available options in mobile phones is very confusing.2something that is offered in addition to the standard equipment when you buy something, especially a carPassenger airbags are available as standard or as an option on all of its cars.3COMPUTING one of the possible choices you can make when using a computer programthe split-screen option4FINANCE (also option to purchase) when an organization buys something, the possibility that it will buy more lateroption for/onThe Spanish air force is due to take 87 of the aircraft, with an option for a further 16.Shanghai Aviation agreed to buy 26 MD-80s and took options on 15 others.5FINANCE the right to buy or sell shares, bonds, currencies, or COMMODITIES (=oil, metals, farm products etc) at a particular price within a particular period of time or on a particular date in the futureOptions allow an investor to bet on moves in large amounts of currencies using relatively small stakes.Each crude-oil options contract entitles its holder to buy or sell the equivalent of 1,000 barrels of oil at a predetermined price.The stock price fell and the option expired (=came to the end of the period of time when it could be used). → American option → call option → covered option → currency option → double option → European option → index option → in-the-money option → out-of-the-money option → put and call option → put option → share option → stock-index option → stock option → traded optionOrigin option (1500-1600) French Latin optio “free choice”

op·tion noun →n COLLOCATIONS1LDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable

Business you a in make can a particular Corpus choice situation

option
op‧tion S1 W2 AC /ˈɒpʃən $ ˈɑːp-/

noun

Word Family: verb: opt, coopt; noun: option; adverb: optionally; adjective: optional

Date: 1500-1600
Language: French
Origin: Latin optio 'free choice'

1. CHOICE [countable] a choice you can make in a particular situation ⇨ optional:

There are a number of options available.

He had two options.

This was not the only option open to him.
option for

a range of options for cutting costs
one/another option is to do something

Another option is to rent somewhere for six months.
option of doing something

She had the option of staying for an extra year.

Teenage mothers often have no option but to (=have no other choice except to) live with their parents.
2. keep/leave your options open to wait before making a decision:

I’m keeping all my options open for the moment.
3. COMPUTERS [countable] one of the possible choices you can make when using computer software:

Select an option from the main menu.

a list of options
4. easy option (also soft option British English) the choice which will be the least difficult, least strict, or need the least effort, which someone might choose because they are lazy:

Is community service just a soft option for criminals?
5. RIGHT TO BUY/SELL [countable] formal the right to buy or sell something in the future
option on

The government has agreed to buy 20 planes, with an option on a further 10.

Connor now owns 302,000 shares and options.
6. AT SCHOOL/UNIVERSITY [countable] British English one of the subjects that you can choose to study at school for an examination, or as part of a course at a college or university:

advice on choosing your options
7. SOMETHING ADDITIONAL [countable] something that is offered in addition to the standard equipment when you buy something new, especially a car
8. first option the chance to buy or get something before anyone else
first option on

They’ve agreed to give us the first option on their apartment.

COLLOCATIONS

■ verbs
   ▪ have an option At the moment, children have the option of leaving school at 16. | In a situation like this, you have two options.
   ▪ give/offer somebody an option Some employees were given the option of retiring early. | Buyers will usually be offered the option of paying in instalments.
   ▪ choose an option Fewer women are choosing the option of motherhood.
   ▪ go for an option (=choose an option) Which option do you think they'll go for?
   ▪ take (up) an option (=choose an option ) America was persuaded not to take up the option of military action.
   ▪ look at an option (=consider an option) You have to look at every option as your business develops.
   ▪ limit your options (=limit what you can choose to do) If you don’t go to college, it may limit your options.
■ adjectives
   ▪ a good/better option Renting a house may be a better option than buying.
   ▪ an attractive option (=one that sounds or is good) If time is short, taking the car to northern France is an attractive option.
   ▪ a realistic/real/serious option (=something that you can really choose to do) I wanted to start my own business but financially it was never a realistic option.
   ▪ a viable/practical option (=something you can choose that will be successful) Surgery may be a viable option when all else fails.
   ▪ a popular option Independent sixth-form colleges are becoming a popular option.
   ▪ a cheap option We urgently need to find a cheaper option than oil or gas.
   ▪ a safe option (=one that involves no risk) A special savings account can be a safe option.
   ▪ sb’s preferred option formal (=the option someone likes best) The new scheme appears to be the airport management’s preferred option.
   ▪ an easy option (also a soft option British English) (=a choice which is not difficult, or which needs the least effort) For most people, divorce is never an easy option.
■ phrases
   ▪ an option is open/available to somebody (=a particular choice is available to someone) Giving a prison sentence is only one of the options open to the judge.
   ▪ keep/leave your options open (=to not limit what you can choose to do later) Studying a broad range of subjects helps to keep your options open.
   ▪ have no/little option but to do something (=have no other choice than to do something) I had no option but to fire him.
   ▪ a range of options The council is considering a range of options for improving the city’s transport system.

THESAURUS

   ▪ choice: choice of: The school seems OK, but there isn’t a great choice of courses. | have a choice (=be able to choose from several things): With her high grades and athletic skill, Celeste had her choice of colleges. | have no choice but to do something (=to be forced to do something because there is nothing else you can choose): Spooner says he had no choice but to file for bankruptcy. | wide choice (=a lot of things to choose from): There is a wide choice of hotels and hostels in the town.
   ▪ option one of the things that you can choose to do in a particular situation: He basically has two options: he can have the surgery, or he can give up playing football. | keep/leave your options open (=delay choosing so that you continue to have several things to choose from): I haven’t signed any contracts yet – I want to keep my options open.
   ▪ alternative one of two or more ways of doing something: Did you consider other alternatives before you moved in with Lucy? | alternative to: There is no practical alternative to our current policy. | have no alternative (=to not have a choice): He says he doesn’t want to see a doctor, but I’m afraid he has no alternative.

noun,

verb

🔑 op·tion AW

BrE

/ˈɒpʃn/

🔊

NAmE

/ˈɑːpʃn/

🔊

noun

🔑

[countable

, uncountable]

something that you can choose to have or do; the freedom to choose what you do 可选择的事物；选择；选择权；选择的自由

◆As I see it, we have two options…据我看，我们有两种选择…

◆There are various options open to you. 你有多种选择。

🔊

◆Going to college was not an option for me. 上大学不是我能选的道路。

🔊

◆I had

no option but to

(= I had to)

ask him to leave. 我别无选择，只有请他离开。

🔊

◆

~ (of doing sth)

Students have the option of studying abroad in their second year. 学生在二年级时可以选择出国学习。

🔊

◆

~ (to do sth)

A savings plan that gives you the option to vary your monthly payments. 一项允许可调每月存款额度的储蓄方案。

🔊

◆This particular model comes with a wide range of options (= things you can choose to have when buying sth but which you will have to pay extra for). 这一型号有各式各样的配件可供选择。

🔊

<titled tranID="31" status="1">option</titled>choice ◇ alternative ◇ possibility

These are all words for sth that you choose to do in a particular situation. 以上各词均指某种情况下的选择。

option something that you can choose to have or do; the freedom to choose what you do 指可选择的事物、选择、选择权、选择的自由：◆As I see it, we have two options… 据我看，我们有两种选择…◆Students have the option of studying abroad in their second year. 学生在二年级时可以选择出国学习。 NOTE Option is also the word used in computing for one of the choices you can make when using a computer program. * option 亦指计算机程序里的选项、选择：◆Choose the 'Cut' option from the Edit menu. 从编辑选单上选择 “剪切” 项。
choice the freedom to choose what you do; something that you can choose to have or do 指选择权、选择的自由、选择、可选择的事物：◆If I had the choice, I would stop working tomorrow. 如果让我选择，我明天就停止工作。◆There is a wide range of choices open to you. 你有很多选择。
alternative something that you can choose to have or do out of two or more possibilities 指可供选择的事物、其中一种选择：◆You can be paid in cash weekly or by cheque monthly: those are the two alternatives. 你的工资可以按周以现金支取，或按月以支票支取。二者可选其一。

option, choice or alternative? 用 option、choice 还是 alternative？

Choice is slightly less formal than option and alternative is slightly more formal. Choice is most often used for 'the freedom to choose', although you can sometimes also use option (but not usually alternative). * choice 较 option 稍非正式，而 alternative 更正式些。表示选择权或选择的自由最常用 choice，不过有时也可用 option，但通常不用 alternative：◆If I had the choice/option, I would… 如果让我选择，我会…◆If I had the alternative, I would…◆parental choice in education 父母在教育方面的选择权◆parental option/alternative in educationThings that you can choose are options, choices or alternatives. However, alternative is more frequently used to talk about choosing between two things rather than several. 表示可选择的事物用 option、choice 或 alternative 均可。不过，alternative 较常用以指两个而非多个可选项。

possibility one of the different things that you can do in a particular situation 指某种情况下可选择的事物：◆We need to explore a wide range of possibilities. 我们需要探究各种可能的情况。◆The possibilities are endless. 可想的办法是无穷的。 NOTE Possibility can be used in a similar way to option, choice and alternative, but the emphasis here is less on the need to make a choice, and more on what is available. * possibility 的用法与 option、choice 和 alternative 相似，不过其重点主要在于可选择的事物而非需要作出选择。