Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
produce
I. verb
I. pro‧duce1 S1 W1 /prəˈdjuːs $ -ˈduːs/ verb [transitive]
[Word Family: noun: produce, producer, product, production, reproduction, productivity; adjective: productive ≠ unproductive, counterproductive, reproductive, reproducible; verb: produce, reproduce; adverb: productively]
[Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: producere, from ducere 'to lead']
1. CAUSE to cause a particular result or effect ⇨ product:
• New drugs are producing remarkable results.
• a rise in sea level produced by climatic change
• As a policy, it did not produce the desired effect.
2. CREATE/MAKE to make, write etc something to be bought, used, or enjoyed by people ⇨ product, production:
• The factory produces an incredible 100 cars per hour.
• How did you manage to produce a meal so quickly? ⇨ mass-produced
3. MAKE NATURALLY to grow something or make it naturally ⇨ product, production:
• This region produces the grapes used in champagne.
• Plants produce oxygen.
4. SHOW if you produce an object, you bring it out or present it, so that people can see or consider it:
• When challenged, he produced a gun.
• They were unable to produce any statistics to verify their claims.
5. PLAY/FILM if someone produces a film or play, they find the money for it and control the way it is made ⇨ producer:
• Costner produced and directed the film.
6. BABY to give birth to a baby or young animals:
• An adult cat may produce kittens three times a year.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ make used about things you make yourself, or things that are made in a factory: • Diane makes all her own clothes. | • My camera was made in China.
▪ produce to make something in large quantities to be sold, or to make something as the result of a natural process: • The factory produces high-quality steel. | • Japan produces some of the most advanced mobile phones. | • The pancreas is a gland in your body which produces hormones.
▪ create to make something new and original: • Tarantino created a whole new style of films. | • Many companies invest a lot of money in creating new products. | • Potter was famous for creating characters such as ‘Peter Rabbit’. | • This technique is used to create images of beautiful forests.
▪ manufacture to make machines, cars, equipment etc in factories: • The company manufactures aircraft parts.
▪ mass-produce to make very large quantities of something in a factory: • They developed a way to mass-produce the drug.
▪ develop to design and make something new over a period of time: • In 1962, Enders developed an effective vaccine against measles. | • The company is developing new anti-virus software.
▪ form to make something as the result of a natural process or chemical reaction: • Hydrogen and oxygen combine to form water. | • The research will help us understand how planets are formed.
▪ generate to make something such as heat, electricity, or power: • Wind can be used to generate electricity.
II. noun
II. prod‧uce2 /ˈprɒdjuːs $ ˈproʊduːs/ noun [uncountable]
[Word Family: noun: produce, producer, product, production, reproduction, productivity; adjective: productive ≠ unproductive, counterproductive, reproductive, reproducible; verb: produce, reproduce; adverb: productively]
food or other things that have been grown or produced on a farm to be sold
agricultural/organic etc produce
• fresh local produce
dairy produce British English (=milk, butter, cheese etc)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + produce
▪ organic produce (=produced without artificial chemicals) • There is increased demand for organic produce.
▪ agricultural/farm produce • The government bought surplus agricultural produce from farmers.
▪ garden produce • She had filled a basket with her garden produce.
▪ local produce • Local produce is used wherever possible.
▪ fresh produce • Wash all fresh produce before use.
▪ dairy produce British English (=milk, butter, cheese etc) • Vitamin A can also be obtained from dairy produce and eggs.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
produce
pro·duce[produceproducesproducedproducing]verb,noun
verb [prəˈdjuːs]; [prəˈduːs]
GOODS
1. ~ sth to make things to be sold, especially in large quantities
Syn: manufacture
• a factory that produces microchips
see also mass-produce
MAKE NATURALLY
2. ~ sth to grow or make sth as part of a natural process; to have a baby or young animal
• The region produces over 50% of the country's wheat.
• These shrubs produce bright red berries.
• Our cat produced kittens last week.
• Her duty was to produce an heir to the throne.
CREATE WITH SKILL
3. ~ sth to create sth, especially when skill is needed
• She produced a delicious meal out of a few leftovers.
RESULT/EFFECT
4. ~ sth to cause a particular result or effect
Syn: bring about
• A phone call to the manager produced the result she wanted.
• The drug produces a feeling of excitement.
SHOW/BRING OUT
5. ~ sth (from/out of sth) to show sth or make sth appear from somewhere
• He produced a letter from his pocket.
• At the meeting the finance director produced the figures for the previous year.
PERSON
6. ~ sb if a town, country, etc. produces sb with a particular skill or quality, the person comes from that town, country, etc
• He is the greatest athlete this country has ever produced.
MOVIE/PLAY
7. ~ sth to be in charge of preparing a film/movie, play, etc. for the public to see
• She produced a TV series about adopted children.
Word Origin:
late Middle English (in sense 5 of the verb): from Latin producere, from pro- ‘forward’ + ducere ‘to lead’. Current noun senses date from the late 17th cent.
Thesaurus:
produce verb
1. T
• a factory that produces microchips
manufacture • • make • • mass-produce • • turn sb/sth out • |informal, disapproving churn sth out •
a factory that produces/manufactures/makes cars/mainframes/microchips
produce/manufacture/make/turn out/churn out 900 cars a week
produce/turn out/churn out books/articles
Produce or manufacture? Manufacture is more often used in business contexts and emphasizes the process of making goods; produce emphasizes the finished product.
2. T
• Our cat produced a litter of four kittens.
have • • breed • • give birth • • reproduce • |formal literary bear •
produce/breed sth from sth
produce/have/give birth to/bear a/an child/son/daughter/heir
produce/have/give birth to baby/litter
produce/bear fruit
3. T
• He produced a delicious meal out of leftovers.
make • • create • • generate • • develop • |especially spoken do •
produce/make/create/generate sth from/out of sth
produce/make/create a meal
produce/create/generate income/profits/wealth
produce/generate electricity/heat/power
4. T
• A phone call to the manager produced the desired result.
bring sth about • • result in sth • • lead (sth) to sth • • cause • • create • • prompt • • provoke • • set sth off • |formal give rise to sth • |approving stimulate •
produce/bring about/result in/lead to/cause/prompt/give rise to a/an change/increase/shift
produce/result in/lead to/cause/create/give rise to problems/difficulties
produce/lead to/cause/create/prompt/provoke/give rise to/stimulate speculation
5. T
• She produces the school play every year.
put sth on • |especially spoken do • |especially written present • • stage •
produce/put on/do/present/stage a play/show
a company produces/puts on/does/presents/stages a play/show
Word Family:
produce verb
producer noun
production noun
productive adjective (≠ unproductive)
productively adverb
product noun
produce noun
Synonyms:
make
do • create • develop • produce • generate • form
These words all mean to make sth from parts or materials, or to cause sth to exist or happen.
make • to create or prepare sth by combining materials or putting parts together; to cause sth to exist or happen: ▪ She makes her own clothes. ◊ ▪ She ▪ made a good impression ▪ on the interviewer.
do • (rather informal) to make or prepare sth, especially sth artistic or sth to eat: ▪ He did a beautiful drawing of a house. ◊ ▪ Who's doing the food for the party?
create • to make sth exist or happen, especially sth new that did not exist before: ▪ Scientists disagree about how the universe was created.
make or create?
Make is a more general word and is more often used for physical things: you would usually make a table/dress/cake but create jobs/wealth. You can use create for sth physical in order to emphasize how original or unusual the object is: ▪ Try this new dish, created by our head chef.
develop • (used especially in business contexts) to think of and produce a new product: ▪ to develop new software
produce • to make things to be sold; to create sth using skill: ▪ a factory that produces microchips
generate • to produce or create sth, especially power, money or ideas: ▪ to generate electricity ◊ ▪ Brainstorming is a good way of generating ideas.
form • [often passive] to make sth from sth else; to make sth into sth else: ▪ Rearrange the letters to form a new word. ◊ ▪ The chain is formed from 136 links.
to make/create/develop/produce/generate/form sth from/out of sth
to make/form sth into sth
to make/produce wine
to create/develop a new product
to create/produce/generate income/profits/wealth
to produce/generate electricity/heat/power
Synonyms:
product
goods • commodity • merchandise • produce
These are all words for things that are produced to be sold.
product • a thing that is produced or grown, usually to be sold: ▪ to create/develop/launch a new product
goods • things that are produced to be sold: ▪ cotton/leather goods ◊ ▪ electrical goods
commodity • (economics) a product or raw material that can be bought and sold, especially between countries: ▪ rice, flour and other basic commodities
merchandise • [U] goods that are bought or sold; things that you can buy that are connected with or advertise a particular event or organization: ▪ official Olympic merchandise
goods or merchandise?
Choose goods if the emphasis is on what the product is made of or what it is for: ▪ leather/household goods. Choose merchandise if the emphasis is less on the product itself and more on its brand or the fact of buying/selling it.
produce • [U] things that have been grown or made, especially things connected with farming: ▪ We sell only fresh local produce.
consumer/industrial products/goods/commodities
household products/goods
farm products/produce
luxury products/goods/commodities
to sell/market a product/goods/a commodity/merchandise/produce
to export a product/goods/a commodity/merchandise
to buy/purchase a product/goods/a commodity/merchandise/produce
Example Bank:
• All of these processes combine to produce a particular form of language.
• He moved to California intending to produce a third novel.
• The changes have not consistently produced the desired results.
• The letter has been produced with digital technology.
• The series was obviously cheaply produced.
• The technology can be used to produce interactive educational programs.
• The wine is produced from Chardonnay grapes.
• These goods are more efficiently produced in small associations.
• Which method is likely to produce the best results?
• a professionally produced CD
• a slickly produced thriller
• fruit and vegetables that are produced locally
• organically produced food
• the 700 million bottles of Bordeaux produced annually
• the sale of sustainably produced timber
• the sounds that are typically produced by an American orchestra
• this handsomely produced reference work
• He argued that wealth is produced by the labour power of the workers.
• Our cat produced a litter of kittens last week.
• The country produces more than two million barrels of oil per day.
• The drug produced an improvement in all but one case.
• The drug produces a feeling of great happiness and excitement.
• The prime minister's speech produced an angry response from opposition parties.
• The questionnaire produced 9 000 replies.
• The region produces over 50% of the country's wheat.
• Their strategy produced the desired outcome.
• These stores sell items which are produced and sold by cooperatives.
• the wine-producing regions of France
noun [ˈprɒdjuːs]; [ˈprɑːduːs]; [ˈproʊduːs]uncountable
things that have been made or grown, especially things connected with farming
• farm produce
• The shop sells only fresh local produce.
• It says on the label ‘Produce of France’.
Word Origin:
late Middle English (in sense 5 of the verb): from Latin producere, from pro- ‘forward’ + ducere ‘to lead’. Current noun senses date from the late 17th cent.
Word Family:
produce verb
producer noun
production noun
productive adjective (≠ unproductive)
productively adverb
product noun
produce noun
Example Bank:
• I'm eating more fresh produce than ever.
• There was limited access to quality produce.
• fresh farm produce
• We sell only fresh local produce.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
produce
produce (RESULT IN) /prəˈdjuːs/ US /-ˈduːs/
verb [T]
to result in or discover something, especially proof:
A lengthy police investigation failed to produce any evidence on which the suspect could be convicted.
produce (CAUSE) /prəˈdjuːs/ US /-ˈduːs/
verb [T]
to cause a reaction or result:
The prime minister's speech produced an angry response from the opposition.
Her remarks produced an awkward silence.
If used on delicate skin, this cream may produce a stinging sensation.
produce (BRING OUT) /prəˈdjuːs/ US /-ˈduːs/
verb [T]
to bring something out from somewhere and show it:
He produced a letter from his desk which he asked me to read.
One of the men suddenly produced a knife from his pocket.
production /prəˈdʌk.ʃən/
noun [U] FORMAL
Entry to the club is only permitted on production (= the showing) of a membership card.
produce (RECORDING) /prəˈdjuːs/ US /-ˈduːs/
verb [T]
to be in charge of making a musical recording and to be responsible for the arrangement of the music, the combination of the different instruments or voices and the general sound of it
producer /prəˈdjuː.səʳ/ US /-ˈduː.sɚ/
noun [C]
a person who makes the practical and financial arrangements needed to make a CD or other recording:
a record producer
production /prəˈdʌk.ʃən/
noun [U]
the preparation and general quality of a musical recording's sound, showing the way in which the music was recorded rather than the quality of the singing and the music:
George Martin did the production on the Beatles records.
produce (FILM/BROADCASTING) /prəˈdjuːs/ US /-ˈduːs/
verb [T]
to organize the practical and financial matters connected with the preparation of a film, play or television or radio programme
Compare direct (CONTROL).
producer /prəˈdjuː.səʳ/ US /-ˈduː.sɚ/
noun [C]
a person who makes the practical and financial arrangements needed to make a film, play, television or radio programme:
a film/Hollywood/movie producer
Compare director at direct (CONTROL).
production /prəˈdʌk.ʃən/
noun
1 [C or U] the activity of organizing the practical and financial matters connected with the preparation of a film, play or television or radio programme:
She's hoping to get into television production.
Disney's latest production (= film) looks likely to be their most successful ever.
2 [C] a particular series of performances of a theatrical entertainment such as a play or opera:
They're doing a new production of Macbeth at the National Theatre.
produce (MAKE) /prəˈdjuːs/ US /-ˈduːs/
verb [T]
1 to make something or bring something into existence:
France produces a great deal of wine for export.
Red blood cells are produced in the bone marrow.
She works for a company that produces (= makes for sale) electrical goods.
I was wondering whether I could produce a meal out of what's left in the fridge.
She's asked me to produce a report on the state of the project.
2 When animals produce young, they give birth to them:
Our cat produced four kittens during the course of the night.
HUMOROUS All our friends seem to be busy producing offspring at the moment.
produce /ˈprɒd.juːs/ US /ˈprɑː.djuːs/
noun [U]
food or any other substance or material that is grown or obtained through farming, especially that which is produced in large amounts:
agricultural/dairy/fresh produce
producer /prəˈdjuː.səʳ/ US /-ˈduː.sɚ/
noun [C]
a company, country or person that provides goods, especially those which are produced by an industrial process or grown or obtained through farming, usually in large amounts:
egg producers
gas/oil producers
Australia is one of the world's main producers of wool.
product /ˈprɒd.ʌkt/ US /ˈprɑː.dʌkt/
noun [C or U]
1 something that is made to be sold, usually something that is produced by an industrial process or, less commonly, something that is grown or obtained through farming:
They do a range of skin-care products.
The product is so good it sells itself.
I'm trying to cut down on dairy products.
See also by-product.
2 a/the product of sth a/the result of something:
A figure like that is usually the product of many hours spent in the gym.
She had a very happy childhood, and I guess her confidence is a product of that.
production /prəˈdʌk.ʃən/
noun [U]
1 the process of making or growing goods to be sold:
Coke is used in the production of steel.
We saw a quick film showing the various stages in the production of glass.
The company's new model will be going into production early next year.
2 the amount of something that is made or grown by a country or a company:
Swedish industrial production has fallen steadily this year.
Wheat production has risen over the years.
productive /prəˈdʌk.
adjective
1 resulting in or providing a large amount or supply of something:
In order to turn the deserts into fertile and productive land, engineers built an 800-mile canal.
He had an amazingly productive five years in which he managed to write four novels.
NOTE: The opposite is unproductive.
2 having positive results:
We had a very productive meeting - I felt we sorted out a lot of problems.
Theirs was a very productive partnership.
productively
adverb
Their working system is based on the belief that people work more productively (= produce better results) in a team.
productivity
noun [U]
the rate at which a company or country makes goods, usually judged in connection with the number of people and the amount of materials necessary to produce the goods:
Studies show that if a working environment is pleasant, productivity increases.
a productivity bonus/incentive
Productivity in the steel industry improved by 5% last year.
Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
produce
produces, producing, produced
(The verb is pronounced [prədju͟ːs, AM -du͟ːs]u>. The noun is pronounced [prɒ̱djuːs, AM -duːs]u> and is hyphenated prod+uce.)
1) VERB To produce something means to cause it to happen.
[V n] The drug is known to produce side-effects in women...
[V n] Talks aimed at producing a new world trade treaty have been under way for six years.
Syn:
bring about
2) VERB If you produce something, you make or create it.
[V n] The company produced circuitry for communications systems...
I'm quite pleased that we do have the capacity to produce that much food.
3) VERB When things or people produce something, it comes from them or slowly forms from them, especially as the result of a biological or chemical process.
[V n] These plants are then pollinated and allowed to mature and produce seed...
[V-ed] Acid rain forms when gases produced by burning coal and oil are dissolved in the atmosphere.
4) VERB If you produce evidence or an argument, you show it or explain it to people in order to make them agree with you.
[V n] They challenged him to produce evidence to support his allegations...
[V n] Scientists have produced powerful arguments against his ideas.
Syn:
come up with
5) VERB If you produce an object from somewhere, you show it or bring it out so that it can be seen.
[V n] To hire a car you must produce a passport and a current driving licence...
[V n] She produced the knife during arguments with her friends.
6) VERB If someone produces something such as a film, a magazine, or a record, they organize it and decide how it should be done.
[V n] He has produced his own sports magazine called Yes Sport...
[V n] He produced `A Chorus Line', Broadway's longest running show.
7) N-UNCOUNT Produce is food or other things that are grown in large quantities to be sold.
We manage to get most of our produce in Britain...
Winter produce will cost more for the next few weeks.