store

II. store² S3 W3 BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: estorer 'to build, supply, store', from Latin instaurare 'to make new, restore']
1. to put things away and keep them until you need them
store something away/up
Squirrels are storing up nuts for the winter.
Store the beans in an airtight jar.
2. to keep facts or information in your brain or a computer:
Standard letters can be stored on floppy discs.
3. store up trouble/problems etc to behave in a way that will cause trouble for you later:
Smokers may be storing up disease for their unborn children.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ keep to leave something in one particular place so that you can find it easily: Where do you keep the scissors? | The keys are kept in my office.
▪ store to put things away and keep them until you need them: Villagers have begun storing wood for the winter.
▪ save to keep something so that you can use or enjoy it in the future: He had been saving the bottle of champagne for a special occasion. | We can save the rest of the pie for later.
▪ file to store papers or information in a particular order or a particular place: All the contracts are filed alphabetically.
▪ collect to get and keep objects of the same type because you think they are attractive or interesting: Kate collects old postcards.
▪ hold to keep something to be used when it is needed, especially something that many different people may need to use: Medical records are now usually held on computers.
▪ reserve formal to keep part of something for use at a later time during a process such as cooking: Reserve some of the chocolate so that you can use it for decorating the cake.
▪ hoard to keep large amounts of food, money etc because you think you may not be able to get them in the future – used when you do not approve of people doing this because it is not necessary or not fair to other people: People have been hoarding food and fuel in case there is another attack. | Rationing of basic food products was introduced to prevent hoarding.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

verb
1. ~ sth (away/up) to put sth somewhere and keep it there to use later
• animals storing up food for the winter
• You can store coffee beans in the freezer to keep them fresh.

• He hoped the electronic equipment was safely stored away.

2. ~ sth to keep information or facts in a computer or in your brain
• Thousands of pieces of data are stored in a computer's memory.
Verb forms:

Word Origin:
Middle English: shortening of Old French estore (noun), estorer (verb), from Latin instaurare ‘renew’; compare with restore.
Example Bank:
• Butane can be conveniently stored as a liquid in a can.
• The paintings were carefully stored in crates dependent on their size.
• electronically stored information
• Each department has a different system for storing and retrieving data.
• Each piece of information is stored in only one place in the database.
• The squirrels are storing up food for the winter.
• Thousands of pieces of data are stored in a computer's memory.

• We are conducting research into how information is stored in the brain.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

store / stɔː r / / stɔːr / verb [ T usually + adv/prep ]

B2 to put or keep things in a special place for use in the future:

The data is stored on a hard disk and backed up on a CD.

I stored my possessions in my mother's house while I was living in Spain.

I've stored my thick sweaters and jackets (away) until next winter.

Squirrels store (up) nuts for the winter.

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

store

[stɔ͟ː(r)]
stores, storing, stored
1) N-COUNT A store is a building or part of a building where things are sold. In British English, store is used mainly to refer to a large shop selling a variety of goods, but in American English a store can be any size of shop.
  Bombs were planted in stores in Manchester and Blackpool.
  ...grocery stores.
  ...a record store.
  Syn:
  shop
2) VERB When you store things, you put them in a container or other place and leave them there until they are needed.
  [V n prep/adv] Store the cookies in an airtight tin...
  [V n prep/adv] Some types of garden furniture must be stored inside in the winter. [Also V n]
  Syn:
  keep
PHRASAL VERB
Store away means the same as store. V n P He simply stored the tapes away... V P n (not pron) He's stored away nearly one ton of potatoes.
3) VERB When you store information, you keep it in your memory, in a file, or in a computer.
  [V n] Where in the brain do we store information about colours?
  [V n] ...chips for storing data in electronic equipment.
4) N-COUNT: usu N of n A store of things is a supply of them that you keep somewhere until you need them.
  I handed over my secret store of chocolate biscuits...
  Dolly's store of drinking glasses had run out.
  Syn:
  supply, stock
5) N-COUNT: usu with supp A store is a place where things are kept while they are not being used.
  ...a decision taken in 1982 to build a store for spent fuel from submarines.
  ...a grain store.
6) N-COUNT: usu N of n If you have a store of knowledge, jokes, or stories, you have a large amount of them ready to be used.
  He possessed a vast store of knowledge...
  Jessica dipped into her store of theatrical anecdotes.
7) → See also chain store, cold store, department store
8) PHRASE: PHR after v, v-link PHR, usu PHR for n If something is in store for you, it is going to happen at some time in the future.
  Surprises were also in store for me.
9) PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n If you set great store by something, you think that it is extremely important or necessary. [FORMAL]
  ...a retail group which sets great store by traditional values.
  Phrasal Verbs:
  - store away
  - store up

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

¹store /ˈstoɚ/ verb stores; stored; stor·ing [+ obj]
1 a : to put (something that is not being used) in a place where it is available, where it can be kept safely, etc.
• I stored my furniture until I found a new apartment.
• She stores her jewels in a safe.
• The wine should be stored at room temperature.
- often + away
• The grain was stored away for the winter.
• We stored away her old toys in the attic.
b : to collect and put (something) into one location for future use
• The body stores fat.
• The solar panels store energy.
- often + up
• The squirrels are storing up nuts for the winter.
• Plants store up the sun's energy.
• (Brit) If you get yourself into debt, you're only storing up trouble/problems for the future.
2 : to place (information) in a person's memory or a computer's memory
• They're studying how our brains store memories.
- often + away
• He stored away his childhood memories.
• The file is stored away on the backup drive.