option

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   one of a number of things from which only one can be chosen

   what option did I have?

2. 2
   noun

   One of a set of choices that can be made.

   Luiz struggled with the movement of Helguson in the box, as he collected a long ball and the Spaniard barged him over, leaving referee Chris Foy little option but to point to the spot.

3. 3
   noun

   The freedom or right to choose.

   The marriage had not been contracted by the father, who was apparently dead, but by an agnatic guardian, so that it was liable to cancellation at the option of the girl on her attaining puberty.

4. 4
   noun

   A contract giving the holder the right to buy or sell an asset at a set strike price; can apply to financial market transactions, or to ordinary transactions for tangible assets such as a residence or automobile.

   There's a book out on us and there's gonna be a movie based on the book. ABC has bought the option for a movie to be made specially for T.V.

5. 5
   noun

   The acquiring or retention of a nationality through personal choice as a right, bypassing selective legal mechanisms for naturalization, especially in cases where a territory is transferred or passed on from one state to another.

   At that time every emigrant who was made aware of such a notification submitted his application for option to the British Consuls within the period prescribed.

6. 6
   verb

   To purchase an option on something.

   The new novel was optioned by the film studio, but they'll probably never decide to make a movie from it.

7. 7
   verb

   To configure, by setting an option.

   The device that is to echo the characters should be optioned for echoplexing.

8. 8
   noun

   the act of choosing or selecting

Etymology

From French option, from Latin optiō (“choice; option; act of choosing”), from optō (“to choose, select”). Equivalent to opt + -ion.