buy

English

Etymology

From Middle English byen, biggen, buggen, from Old English bycġan (“to buy, pay for, acquire, redeem, ransom, procure, get done, sell”), from Proto-Germanic *bugjaną (“to buy”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *bhūgh- (“to bend”), or from Proto-Indo-European *bheugh- (“to take away, deliver”). Cognate with Scots by (“to buy, purchase”), Old Saxon buggian, buggean (“to buy”), Old Norse byggja (“to procure a wife, lend at interest, let out”), Gothic 𐌱𐌿𐌲𐌾𐌰𐌽 (bugjan, “to buy”).

Pronunciation

Verb

buy (third-person singular simple present buys, present participle buying, simple past bought, past participle bought or (rare, dialectal) boughten)

  1. (transitive) To obtain (something) in exchange for money or goods
    I'm going to buy my father something nice for his birthday.
  2. (transitive) To obtain by some sacrifice.
    I've bought material comfort by foregoing my dreams.
  3. (transitive) To bribe.
    He tried to buy me with gifts, but I wouldn't give up my beliefs.
  4. (transitive) To be equivalent to in value.
    The dollar doesn't buy as much as it used to.'
  5. (transitive, informal) to accept as true; to believe
    I'm not going to buy your stupid excuses anymore!
  6. (intransitive) To make a purchase or purchases, to treat (for a meal)
    She buys for Federated.
    Let's go out for dinner. I'm buying.
  7. (poker slang, transitive) To make a bluff, usually a large one.
    Smith tried to buy the pot on the river with a huge bluff

Synonyms

Antonyms

Derived terms

terms derived from buy (verb)

Related terms

Translations

to obtain for money
to accept as true
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Noun

buy (plural buys)

  1. Something which is bought; a purchase.
    At only $30, the second-hand kitchen table was a great buy.

Antonyms

Derived terms

Translations

purchase — see purchase

References

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Last modified on 5 May 2013, at 09:13