I. ˈbī verb
( bought ˈbȯt ; 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 ˈbī(-ə)r noun
•
- buy into
- buy it
- buy time
II. noun
Date: 1879
1. : something of value at a favorable price ; especially : bargain
it's a real buy at that price
2. : an act of buying : purchase