import

▪ I. import im‧port ¹ [ˈɪmpɔːt ǁ -ɔːrt] noun

1. [countable usually plural] COMMERCE something that is made in one country and brought into another, usually in order to be sold there:

• The shops are full of cheap imports.

2. [countable usually plural, uncountable] COMMERCE the activity of bringing goods into a country; = IMPORTATION:

import of

• US regulations on the import of four-wheel drive vehicles

• a ban on imports of exotic birds

• A slowdown in Japan's domestic economy led to a sharp decline in imports of luxury cars.

3. imports [plural] ECONOMICS the amount or value of the goods brought into a country over a particular period of time:

• With a strong dollar, US exports will continue to decline and imports will rise.

ˌparallel ˈimports [plural] ECONOMICS

goods that are imported avoiding the distribution channel S (= ways of buying goods to sell to the public ) approved by the makers, or the activity of importing them:

• a recent increase in parallel imports, where British retailers purchase CDs from European countries where prices are lower than in the UK

ˌvisible ˈimports [plural] ECONOMICS

imports that are physical goods, for example industrial products and food

  [m0] ▪ II. import im‧port ² [ɪmˈpɔːt ǁ -ɔːrt] verb [transitive]

1. COMMERCE to bring something into a country from abroad, usually in order to sell it:

• We must reduce the country's dependence on imported oil.

import something from something

• Bees were imported from Africa in an effort to improve honey production.

import something into something

• These raw materials are all imported into Korea, as there are no local producers.

2. COMPUTING to move information from one computer or software program into another:

• You can either type your data into this form or you can import data from a spreadsheet.

* * *

Ⅰ.

import UK US /ˈɪmpɔːt/ noun COMMERCE

► [C, usually plural] a product that is made in one country and brought into another, especially in order to sell it: »

Oil is our most important import by far.

»

cheap/expensive/imports

► [C or U] the activity or business of bringing goods into a country from another country: »

The authorities imposed a ban on imports of hormone-treated beef.

»

Trade (the sum of exports and imports) was equivalent to 44% of GDP.

»

The officials were accused of evading tariffs on the import of cars and other luxury goods.

● imports — Cf. imports

Ⅱ.

import UK US /ɪmˈpɔːt/ verb

► [I or T] COMMERCE to bring a product into a country from another country, especially in order to sell it: »

In some large chains, more than 80% of all produce is imported.

»

For four consecutive quarters, the country has exported more than it has imported.

import sth from/into sth »

We can undercut British showroom prices by up to 30% by importing cars from cheaper European markets.

»

Some of the Chinese cars being imported into European countries use electrical components from Germany.

»

Machinery products must comply with the safety regulations of the importing countries.

► [T] to introduce new goods, customs, or ideas to one country from another: »

The Brazilian-owned steel company has become one of the two biggest employers in town, importing a new management style and fresh capital to the area.

► [T] IT to copy information from one computer or computer program to another: »

The images can be imported directly into the page layout.

→ Compare EXPORT(Cf. ↑export) verb

importable adjective

► »

20 industrial fabrics were moved on to the list of freely importable goods in 2005.