—n.
1 a building, room, etc., for the retail sale of goods or services (chemist's shop; betting-shop).
2 a place in which manufacture or repairing is done; a workshop (engineering-shop).
3 a profession, trade, business, etc., esp. as a subject of conversation (talk shop).
4 colloq. an institution, establishment, place of business, etc.
—v. (shopped, shopping)
1 intr. a go to a shop or shops to buy goods. b US = window-shop.
2 tr. esp. Brit. sl. inform against (a criminal etc.).
Phrases and idioms:
all over the shop colloq.
1 in disorder (scattered all over the shop).
2 in every place (looked for it all over the shop).
3 wildly (hitting out all over the shop). set up shop establish oneself in business etc. shop around look for the best bargain. shop assistant Brit. a person who serves customers in a shop. shop-boy (or -girl) an assistant in a shop. shop-floor workers in a factory etc. as distinct from management.
shop-soiled
1 (of an article) soiled or faded by display in a shop.
2 (of a person, idea, etc.) grubby; tarnished; no longer fresh or new. shop steward a person elected by workers in a factory etc. to represent them in dealings with management.
shop-window
1 a display window in a shop.
2 an opportunity for displaying skills, talents, etc. shop-worn = shop-soiled.
Derivatives:
shopless adj. shoppy adj.
Etymology: ME f. AF & OF eschoppe booth f. MLG schoppe, OHG scopf porch
Useful english dictionary. 2012.