preference
Word family
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++pref·e·rence /ˈprefərəns/ ●●○ W3 noun 1 [countable, uncountable]PREFER if you have a preference for something, you like it more than another thing and will choose it if you can 偏爱，偏好 → prefer Do you have a colour preference? 你有什么颜色上的偏好吗？preference for a cultural preference for boy babies 喜欢生男孩的文化观念 Parents may be able to express a preference as to the school their child will attend. 家长也许可以表明愿意让孩子就读哪所学校。 The amount of sugar you add will depend on personal preference. 加多少糖取决于个人的喜好。 Many elderly people expressed a strong preference to live in their own homes. 许多老年人强烈表示喜欢住在自己的家里。in preference to something (=rather than something) 而不是某事物 Use clear English in preference to technical language. 要用简明的英语，而不是专业术语。2 [countable, uncountable] when someone is treated more favourably than other people, often when he or she has been treated unfairly in the past 优待，优惠，优先（权） Racial preferences are a way to make up for years of discrimination against minorities. 种族优待政策是对多年来少数族裔所受歧视的一种补偿。give/show preference (to somebody) In allocating housing, preference is given to families with young children. 房屋优先分配给有年幼孩子的家庭。3. sexual preference someone’s sexual preference is whether they want to have sex with men or women 性取向，性偏好n COLLOCATIONSverbshave a preferenceDo you have a preference for red or white wine?express a preferenceHe avoided expressing a preference for any of the remaining Democratic candidates.show a preferenceFemales showed a preference for long-tailed males.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + preferencea strong preferenceIn some countries, there is still a strong preference for sons.a clear preferenceThere was a clear preference amongst the staff for this style of leadership.a marked preference (=strong and clear)The animals have a marked preference for woodland.a personal preferenceMy personal preference is to eat meat only once or twice a week.individual preferencesThis partnership can take a variety of forms, depending on individual preferences.consumer preferencesInformation about local consumer preferences can be used by a manufacturer's sales force.food preferencesVery young children may have clear food preferences.phrasesin order of preferencePlease list your choice of colleges in order of preference.be a matter of personal preference (=be something that you can choose, according to what you like)Which one you decide to buy is just a matter of personal preference.Examples from the Corpus
preference• When they're old enough for a preference, he's the preference.• Coupons generated electronically at the cash register are popular across the country, because they mirror consumer preferences.• Adams expressed her preference for New York, despite the fact that she's lived in California for six years.• The context of these remarks was his preference for allowing arbitrators to make final decisions on questions of construction.• Because of its preference for lower temperatures, this is an ideal plant for the garden pool.• Most of us arrange our bedrooms based purely on personal preference.• Our personal preference is to cook pork, particularly the loin cuts, so that it is slightly pink and remains moist.• There are definite regional preferences amongst our clients.• This extremely flexible system allows the hotel to tailor service preferences for each guest.• When he provided nests on two tiers, hens showed a strong preference for the lower level.• Oil or vinegar may be added for a more bland or sharp sauce, according to your preference.in preference to something• Transaction costs have encouraged firms to expand their own internal capacity in preference to extensive reliance on outside suppliers.• I like paying with credit cards in preference to cash.• These factors also influence the demand for one sort of drink in preference to another.• Therefore, it seems shareholders should absorb the risks of an enterprise in preference to management doing so.• The victims of a burglary are often puzzled as to why the thief chose their home in preference to others.• Experiment also shows that the eye learns to travel along the upper edge of a line in preference to the lower edge.• Secondly, there are processes which select certain patterns of motion in preference to others.• The idea of anybody, Marge especially, liking that wall-eyed ox in preference to Dickie made Tom smile.• There are certain clothes we feel comfortable in and which we would wear in preference to all others.give/show preference (to somebody)• Similarly, infants as young as 6 weeks of age consistently show preferences for familiar as compared to unfamiliar faces.• For example, there have already been reports of hospitals giving preference to patients of fundholding general practitioners.• It is blatant, undisguised opportunism by management, showing preference for what can be done, rather than what should be done.• To the extent that rank-ordering means giving preferences to candidates of one party rather than another it is both easy and reasonable.• Flaggers will direct traffic, giving preference to northbound traffic in the morning and southbound in the evening.From Longman Business Dictionarypreferencepref‧e‧rence /ˈprefərəns/ noun1[countable, uncountable] the state of liking something more than something else, or something you like more than another thingPeople were twice as likely to change their brand preference if they liked an advertisement.a change in consumer preference from adjustable-rate to fixed-rate mortgages2[uncountable]COMMERCE when a country treats some countries more favourably than others in international trade, for example through lower import taxesBritain must take a strong line with its trading partners, but without damaging Community preference (=treating goods from the European Union more favourably than others.)pref·e·rence noun →n COLLOCATIONS1LDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable
you have preference you if Corpus a like something, for Business
preference
pref‧e‧rence W3 /ˈprefərəns/
noun
Do you have a colour preference?
preference for
a cultural preference for boy babies
Parents may be able to express a preference as to the school their child will attend.
The amount of sugar you add will depend on personal preference.
Many elderly people expressed a strong preference to live in their own homes.
in preference to something (=rather than something)
Use clear English in preference to technical language.
2. [uncountable and countable] when someone is treated more favourably than other people, often when he or she has been treated unfairly in the past:
Racial preferences are a way to make up for years of discrimination against minorities.
give/show preference (to somebody)
In allocating housing, preference is given to families with young children.
3. sexual preference someone’s sexual preference is whether they want to have sex with men or women
■ verbs
▪have a preference Do you have a preference for red or white wine?
▪express a preference He avoided expressing a preference for any of the remaining Democratic candidates.
▪show a preference Females showed a preference for long-tailed males.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + preference
▪a strong preference In some countries, there is still a strong preference for sons.
▪a clear preference There was a clear preference amongst the staff for this style of leadership.
▪a marked preference (=strong and clear) The animals have a marked preference for woodland.
▪a personal preference My personal preference is to eat meat only once or twice a week.
▪individual preferences This partnership can take a variety of forms, depending on individual preferences.
▪consumer preferences Information about local consumer preferences can be used by a manufacturer's sales force.
▪food preferences Very young children may have clear food preferences.
■ phrases
▪in order of preference Please list your choice of colleges in order of preference.
▪be a matter of personal preference (=be something that you can choose, according to what you like) Which one you decide to buy is just a matter of personal preference.
pref‧e‧rence W3 /ˈprefərəns/
noun Word Family: adverb: preferably, preferentially; adjective: preferable, preferential; verb: prefer; noun: preference
1. [uncountable and countable] if you have a preference for something, you like it more than another thing and will choose it if you can ⇨ prefer: preference for
in preference to something (=rather than something)
2. [uncountable and countable] when someone is treated more favourably than other people, often when he or she has been treated unfairly in the past:
give/show preference (to somebody)
3. sexual preference someone’s sexual preference is whether they want to have sex with men or women
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choice a person or thing that is chosen 指入选者、选中的东西 ：◆ She's the obvious choice for the job. 她是这个职位当然的人选。 favourite/favorite a person or thing that you like more than the others of the same type 指同类人或事物中最喜欢的一个 ：◆ Which one's your favourite? 你最喜欢哪一个？ preference a thing that is liked better or best 指偏爱的或最喜爱的事物 ：◆ Tastes and preferences vary from individual to individual. 人的爱好和选择各不相同。
favourite or preference? 用 favourite 还是 preference？
selection a number of people or things that have been chosen from a larger group 指从大群中选出来的一组人或物 ：◆ A selection of reader's comments are published below. 下面选登了部分读者评论。 pick ( a person or thing that is chosenrather
指入选者、选中的东西 ：◆ She was his pick for best actress. 她是他认为最好的女演员。
Patterns
sb's choice/favourite/pick for sthsb's choice/selection/pick as sthan obvious choice/favourite/selectiona(n) excellent/good/popular/fine choice/selection
