cli‧ent S2 W1 / klaɪənt / 名词 [可数名词]

1 someone who gets services or advice from a professional person, company, or organization 同义词 customer :

a meeting with an important client

2 technical a computer on a network that receives information from a server (= large powerful computer )

COLLOCATIONS

ADJECTIVES/NOUN + client

new Most firms are desperate for new clients.

important This is an important client and we do not want to lose her.

a major client (= an important one ) Some of our major clients have not taken the news of the merger well.

a potential/prospective client (= someone who might become a client ) Make sure potential clients know about all of your services.

an existing client (= one that you already have ) We are very keen to keep our existing clients happy.

a private client (= a person rather than a business ) There are more than 200 stockbroking firms eager to take on private clients.

a business client Competition for business clients between travel companies is keen.

a corporate client (= a big company or a group of companies ) Our law firm represents numerous corporate clients.

动词

advise a client The surveyor will advise his client on the value of the property.

act for/on behalf of a client The lawyer will write confirming that he agrees to act for his client.

represent a client Mead was a top attorney representing major corporate clients.

deal with a client They receive training to help them deal with difficult clients.

client + NOUN

a client base (= all the people, companies etc that are your clients ) The company quickly expanded its client base in the US.

THESAURUS

customer someone who buys goods or services from a shop or company : Customers were waiting for the shop to open. | The bank is one of our biggest customers.

client someone who pays for a service from a professional person or company : He has a meeting with one of his clients. | The company buys and sells shares on behalf of their clients

shopper someone who goes to the shops looking for things to buy : The streets were full of Christmas shoppers.

guest someone who pays to stay in a hotel : Guests must leave their rooms by 10 am.

patron / peɪtrən / formal a customer of a particular shop, restaurant or hotel – usually written on signs : The notice said ‘Parking for Patrons Only’.

patient someone who is getting medical treatment from a doctor, or in a hospital : He is a patient of Dr Williams.

consumer anyone who buys goods or uses services – used when considering these people as a group who have particular rights, needs, or behaviour : Consumers are demanding more environmentally-friendly products. | the rights of the consumer | The law is designed to protect consumers who buy goods on the Internet.

market the number of people who want to buy a product, or the type of people who want to buy it : The market for organic food is growing all the time. | a magazine aimed at the youth market

clientele / kliəntel $ klaɪəntel, kli- / formal the type of customers that a particular shop, restaurant etc gets : The hotel has a very upmarket clientele. | They have a wealthy international clientele.