n.
Pronunciation: ' b ī
Function: verb
Inflected Form: bought \ ' bo ̇ t \ ; buy · ing
Etymology: Middle English byen, from Old English bycgan; akin to Gothic bugjan to buy
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
1 : to acquire possession, ownership, or rights to the use or services of by payment especially of money : PURCHASE
2 a : to obtain in exchange for something often at a sacrifice <they bought peace with their freedom> b : REDEEM 6
3 : BRIBE , HIRE
4 : to be the purchasing equivalent of <the dollar buy s less today than it used to>
5 : ACCEPT , BELIEVE <I don't buy that hooey> ― often used with into
intransitive verb : to make a purchase
– buy · er \ ' b ī (- ə )r \ noun
– buy into : to purchase a portion of or interest in <the TV network bought into its local football team>
– buy it or buy the farm : to get killed : DIE
– buy time : to delay an imminent action or decision : STALL