BORROW


Meaning of BORROW in English

v.

Pronunciation: ' bär-( ˌ ) ō , ' bo ̇ r-

Function: verb

Etymology: Middle English borwen, from Old English borgian; akin to Old English beorgan to preserve ― more at BURY

Date: before 12th century

transitive verb

1 a : to receive with the implied or expressed intention of returning the same or an equivalent < borrow a book> < borrow ed a dollar> b : to borrow (money) with the intention of returning the same plus interest

2 a : to appropriate for one's own use < borrow a metaphor> b : DERIVE , ADOPT

3 : to take (one) from a digit of the minuend in arithmetical subtraction in order to add as 10 to the digit holding the next lower place

4 : to adopt into one language from another

5 dialect : LEND

intransitive verb : to borrow something

– bor · row · er \ - ə -w ə r \ noun

– borrow trouble : to do something unnecessarily that may result in adverse reaction or repercussions

Merriam Webster Collegiate English Dictionary.      Merriam Webster - Энциклопедический словарь английского языка.