purchase

Meanings

Noun

• The acquisition of title to, or property in, anything for a price; buying for money or its equivalent.
• That which is obtained, got or acquired, in any manner, honestly or dishonestly; property; possession; acquisition.
• That which is obtained for a price in money or its equivalent.
• The act or process of seeking and obtaining something (e.g. property, etc.)
• A price paid for a house or estate, etc. equal to the amount of the rent or income during the stated number of years.
• Any mechanical hold or advantage, applied to the raising or removing of heavy bodies, as by a lever, a tackle or capstan.
• The apparatus, tackle or device by which such mechanical advantage is gained and in nautical terminology the ratio of such a device, like a pulley, or block and tackle.
• The amount of hold one has from an individual foothold or ledge.
• Acquisition of lands or tenements by means other than descent or inheritance, namely, by one's own act or agreement.

Verb

• To buy, obtain by payment of a price in money or its equivalent.
• To pursue and obtain; to acquire by seeking; to gain, obtain, or acquire.
• To obtain by any outlay, as of labor, danger, or sacrifice, etc.
• To expiate by a fine or forfeit.
• To apply to (anything) a device for obtaining a mechanical advantage; to get a purchase upon, or apply a purchase to; to raise or move by mechanical means.
• To put forth effort to obtain anything; to strive; to exert oneself.
• To constitute the buying power for a purchase, have a trading value.

Related

Similar words

• procure

Origin

• From Middle English purchasen, from Anglo-Norman purchacer ("seek to obtain") from pur- (from Latin pro-) + chacer. Compare Old French porchacier ("to follow, to chase"), which has given French pourchasser ("to chase without relent").