Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - opportunity

~ n 1 a chance to do something or an occasion when it is easy for you to do something  (I just thought it was too good an opportunity to miss. | opportunity to do sth)  (You have had plenty of opportunity to observe our way of doing things.) + for  (When you're in school there are lots of opportunities for meeting people of the opposite sex.) take the opportunity to do sth (=use a chance to say something you want to)  (I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you a good trip. | at the earliest/first opportunity (=as soon as possible))  (He must have got rid of the body at the first opportunity. | at every opportunity (=whenever possible))  (I try to speak French at every available opportunity.) chance1 2 a chance to get a job  (There are fewer opportunities for new graduates this year.)  (- see also equal opportunities equal1 (2))