■ verb ( ~s , ~ing ; past and past participle bought )
1》 obtain in exchange for payment.
↘( ~ someone out ) pay someone to give up an ownership, interest, or share.
↘( ~ oneself out ) obtain one's release from the armed services by payment.
↘( ~ something in ) withdraw something at auction because it fails to reach the reserve price.
2》 get by sacrifice or great effort.
3》 informal accept the truth of.
■ noun informal a purchase.
Phrases
~ the farm N. Amer. informal die.
~ it informal be killed.
~ time delay an event temporarily so as to have longer to improve one's own position.
Origin
OE bycgan , of Gmc origin.