Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A large self-service retail market that sells food and household goods.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A large self-service store that sells groceries and, usually, medications, household goods, and/or clothing.
  • noun A chain of such stores.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a large self-service grocery store selling groceries and dairy products and household goods

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From super- +‎ market.

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Examples

Comments

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  • "It's best to work shoplifting in the supermarket with a partner who can act as look-out and shield you from the eyes of nosy employees, shoppers and other crooks trying to pick up some pointers. Work out a prearranged set of signals with your partner. Diversions, like knocking over displays, getting into fist fights with the manager, breaking plate glass windows and such are effective and even if you don't get anything they're fun. Haven't you always wanted to knock over those carefully constructed nine-foot pyramids of garbage?"

    - Abbie Hoffman, 'Steal This Book'.

    February 18, 2009