[pur.chase] vb pur.chased ; pur.chas.ing [ME purchacen, fr. OF purchacier to seek to obtain, fr. por-, pur- for, forward (modif. of L pro-) + chacier to pursue, chase--more at pro-] vt (14c) 1 a archaic: gain, acquire b: to acquire (real estate) by means other than descent or inheritance c: to obtain by paying money or its equivalent: buy d: to obtain by labor, danger, or sacrifice
2: to apply a device for obtaining a mechanical advantage to (as something to be moved); also: to move by a purchase
3: to constitute the means for buying "our dollars ~ less each year" ~ vi: to purchase something -- pur.chas.able adj -- pur.chas.er n
[2]purchase n (14c) 1: an act or instance of purchasing
2: something obtained esp. for a price in money or its equivalent 3 a (1): a mechanical hold or advantage applied to the raising or moving of heavy bodies (2): an apparatus or device by which advantage is gained b (1): an advantage (as a firm hold or position) used in applying one's power "clutching the steering wheel for more ~ --Barry Crump" (2): a means of exerting power