2
general::
purpose
adjectives
the main/primary purpose
• The main purpose of our trip to Arran was to see golden eagles.
the sole purpose
• I used to bake cakes for the sole purpose of giving them away.
the real purpose
• What was the real purpose of their visit?
the whole purpose
(= used for emphasis )
• The whole purpose of running a business is to make money.
sth’s original purpose
• The building is no longer needed for its original purpose.
a useful purpose
• Nuclear weapons serve no useful purpose and should be banned.
a practical purpose
• These materials are too fine to have a practical purpose in daily life.
a dual purpose
(= two purposes )
• A dog can fulfil a dual purpose by providing both company and security.
a common purpose
(= one that people share )
• We were bound together by a common purpose.
a specific/particular purpose
• Training is the acquisition of knowledge and skills for a specific purpose.
phrases
for political/military/educational/medicinal etc purposes
• This technology could be used for military purposes.
for business/research etc purposes
• About one in five of all trips are made for business purposes.
verbs
have a purpose
• A meeting should have a clear purpose.
serve/fulfil a purpose
(= be used in a particular way )
• The building must have served a religious purpose. • Many old school buildings are no longer suitable for fulfilling their original purpose.
achieve your purpose
(= achieve what you wanted to achieve )
• She had achieved her purpose, at least in part.
transnet.ir
3
general::
noun aim/function ADJ. limited | chief, main, primary, prime, principal | true | sole | practical, useful These bars serve no useful purpose. | general a general-purpose cleaning fluid | common a group of individuals sharing a common purpose | particular, special, specific | dual a toy with the dual purpose of entertaining and developing memory skills | stated | social the view that art should serve a social purpose VERB + PURPOSE have | lack | accomplish, achieve, fulfil, serve The scheme achieved its primary purpose, if nothing else. PREP. for a/the ~ I put the chair there for a purpose. a measure introduced for the purpose of protecting the interests of investors | on ~ (= intentionally) He slammed the door on purpose. PHRASES at cross purposes (= not understanding or having the same aims, etc. as each other) I finally realized that we were talking at cross purposes. | for/with the express purpose of sth The school was founded with the express purpose of teaching deaf children to speak. | for (all) practical purposes Nominally she is the secretary, but for all practical purposes she runs the place. | purpose-built The cycling events will take place in a purpose-built 20,000-seater stadium. | your purpose in life She saw being a doctor as her purpose in life. | put/use sth to (a/some) purpose The old mill has been put to good purpose. | a sense of purpose Encouraged by her example, they all set to work with a fresh sense of purpose. | strength of purpose They had great confidence and strength of purpose. purposes: requirements of a particular situation ADJ. administrative, business, commercial, domestic, educational, insurance, legal, medical, medicinal, political, research, tax, teaching You will need to have the vehicle valued for insurance purposes. PREP. for … ~ The drug can be sold for medicinal purposes only. | for the ~s of Let's assume he knows, for the purposes of our argument.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
4
general::
see AT CROSS PURPOSES; FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES; ON PURPOSE; SERVE A PURPOSE; TO GOOD PURPOSE; TO LITTLE OR NO PURPOSE. In addition to the idiom beginning with PURSE, Also see CAN'T MAKE A SILK PURSE OUT OF A SOW'S EAR.
American Heritage Idioms
5
general::
purpose
the reason you do something, and the thing you want to achieve when you do it:
• What is the purpose of your visit to England? • The plant is used for medicinal purposes.
aim
what you want to achieve when you do something:
• The main aims of the project are as follows. • Their ultimate aim is to find a cure for cancer.
goal
something that you hope to achieve in the future, even though this may take a long time:
• It took Mandela over forty years to achieve his goal of a democratic South Africa. • the goal of ending child poverty
objective
something that you are working hard to achieve, especially in business or politics:
• The bank achieved its objective of increasing its share of the market. • The government’s long-term objective is to cut CO2 emissions by 50%.
the object of something
formal the specific purpose of an activity:
• The object of the game is to get as many points as possible. • The students will benefit, and that must be the object of the exercise (= the main thing that you are trying to do ) .
the point
the purpose of doing something and the reason why it is right or necessary:
• At fourteen, I couldn’t see the point of going to school. • What’s the point in waiting? (= I don’t think it is useful or necessary )
intention
the purpose that you have in your mind when you do something:
• He kept his real intentions well hidden. • Although we made a lot of money, this wasn’t our original intention.
ends
the result that someone is trying to achieve – used especially when you disapprove of what someone is doing:
• They are using religion for political ends. • The ends do not justify the means (= you should not use violence, cruelty, dishonest behaviour etc to achieve your aims ) .
Longman-Thesaurus