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Meaning of purchase in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Verb
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions
  3. Noun
    1. Definitions
  1. Pronunciation

    /ˈpərtʃəs/

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  1. Verb

    purchase

    Etymology

    Middle English: from Old French pourchacier‘seek to obtain or bring about’, the earliest sense also in English, which soon gave rise to the senses ‘gain’ (hence, in nautical use, the notion of ‘gaining’ one portion of rope after another) and ‘buy’

    Definitions

    1. obtain by purchase

    Examples

    • « acquire by means of a financial transaction »
    • « The family purchased a new car »
    • « The conglomerate acquired a new company »
    • « She buys for the big department store »

    Antonyms

    • sell

    Derived terms

    • bargain
    • buy
    • buyer
    • buying
    • emptor
    • purchaser
    • purchasing
    • steal
    • vendee
  2. Noun

    purchase

    Definitions

    1. the acquisition of something for payment

    Examples

    • « they closed the purchase with a handshake »

    Derived terms

    • buy
  3. 2. something acquired by purchase

    Derived terms

    • buy
  4. 3. a means of exerting influence or gaining advantage

    Examples

    • « he could get no purchase on the situation »
  5. 4. the mechanical advantage gained by being in a position to use a lever

    Derived terms

    • jimmy
    • lever
    • prise
    • prize
    • pry

Famous quotes

  • « From this process has emerged a parallel process of translating traditional working and living values into a new political and economic power - a power increasingly based upon the strength of money and those material things money can purchase. »
    Alex Campbell
  • « To protect people's lives and keep our children safe, we must implement public-works spending and do so proudly. If possible, I'd like to see the Bank of Japan purchase all of the construction bonds that we need to issue to cover the cost. That would also forcefully circulate money in the market. That would be positive for the economy, too. »
    Shinzo Abe
  • « We had high and boisterous winds last night and this morning: the Indians continue to purchase repairs with grain of different kinds. »
    Meriwether Lewis
  • « If Obamacare is allowed to stand - and Congress is allowed to make the purchase of government-endorsed health insurance compulsory - there will be no meaningful limit on Washington's reach into the lives of the American people. That is certainly not what the Founders intended. »
    John Cornyn
  • « You have to wait six months to purchase a fuel efficient automobile made from overseas. »
    Ed Markey

Browse dictionary

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