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quota

/ˈkwoʊdə/
/ˈkwʌʊtə/
IPA guide

Other forms: quotas

A quota is a specific number of things. If a quota is placed on the total number of apples each visitor can pick at an orchard, it means that once you've picked a certain number of apples, you have to stop.

Usually a quota places an upper limit on the total number or amount of some item. There are quotas placed on all kinds of things, like immigrants entering a country, goods exported, or students admitted to a particular school. Quota comes from the Latin phrase quota pars, or "how large a part".

Definitions of quota
  1. noun
    a prescribed number
    “all the salesmen met their quota for the month”
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    type of:
    number
    a concept of quantity involving zero and units
  2. noun
    a proportional share assigned to each participant
    see moresee less
    type of:
    allocation, allotment
    a share set aside for a specific purpose
  3. noun
    a limitation on imports
    “the quota for Japanese imports was negotiated”
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    type of:
    import barrier, trade barrier
    any regulation or policy that restricts international trade
Pronunciation
US
/ˈkwoʊdə/
UK
/ˈkwʌʊtə/
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