buy

EtymologyEdit

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”).

PronunciationEdit

• enPR: bī, IPA^(key): /baɪ/

• Audio (US)

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• Audio (UK)

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• Rhymes: -aɪ
• Homophones: bi, bye, by

VerbEdit

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.

   • Benjamin Franklin

     Buy what thou hast no need of, and ere long thou wilt sell thy necessaries.

2. (transitive) To obtain by some sacrifice.

   I've bought material comfort by foregoing my dreams.

   • Bible, Proverbs xxiii. 23

     Buy the truth and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

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

SynonymsEdit

• (obtain (something) in exchange for money): purchase
• (accept as true): accept, believe, swallow (informal), take on
• ((intransitive) make a purchase): make a buy

AntonymsEdit

• (obtain (something) in exchange for money): sell, vend
• (accept as true): disbelieve, reject, pitch

Derived termsEdit

Related termsEdit

• aby

TranslationsEdit

NounEdit

buy (plural buys)

1. Something which is bought; a purchase.

   At only $30, the second-hand kitchen table was a great buy.

AntonymsEdit

• sale

Derived termsEdit

• buydown
• buyout
• impulse buy

TranslationsEdit

ReferencesEdit

• buy in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• buy in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913