customer

Everyday

1. A customer is a person who buys things in a shop or uses a service, like a café or a hairdresser. tree →
2. (informal) An ugly customer is a person who is dangerous or difficult to deal with. tree →

In the lessons

people who come to a shop or restaurant; they buy, order and leave; «each customer bought N» gives a rate; phrases: «a regular customer», «customer service», «serve a customer», «the customer is always right»

Examples

• A waiter had 12 customers. tree →
• 8 customers left. tree →
• Each customer bought 3 drinks. tree →
• How many customers did he serve in all? tree →
• The shop was full of customers before the holiday. tree →
• The baker said hello to every customer. tree →
• Customers wait in a queue to pay. tree →
• Mrs Brown is a regular customer at the café. tree →
• Cucullin was an ugly customer to meet with; and, the idea of the "cake" aforesaid flattened the very heart within him. tree →

Note

Countable: a customer, customers. A thing counted. «left» takes away, «came in» adds; «each customer bought N» gives a rate. Trap: the number of customers is not the number of things they bought.