■ noun
1》 a sum of money placed in a bank or other account.
2》 a sum payable as a first instalment or as a pledge.
↘a returnable sum paid to cover possible loss or damage.
3》 a layer or body of accumulated matter.
4》 the action of ~ing something.
■ verb ( ~s , ~ing , ~ed )
1》 put or set down in a specific place.
↘lay down naturally as a layer or covering.
2》 store or entrust with someone for safe keeping.
↘pay as a ~.
Phrases
lose one's ~ (of a candidate in a UK parliamentary election) receive less than a certain proportion of the votes (thereby forfeiting a statutory financial ~).
Derivatives
~or noun
Origin
C16: from L. ~um (n.), med. L. ~are (v.), both from L. ~- , deponere 'lay aside'.