/ ˈbɒrəʊ; NAmE ˈbɑːroʊ; ˈbɔːr-/ verb
1.
[ vn ] borrow sth (from sb/sth) to take and use sth that belongs to sb else, and return it to them at a later time :
Can I borrow your umbrella?
Members can borrow up to ten books from the library at any one time.
—compare lend
2.
borrow (sth) (from sb/sth) to take money from a person or bank and agree to pay it back to them at a later time :
[ vn ]
She borrowed £2 000 from her parents.
[ v ]
I don't like to borrow from friends.
—compare lend
3.
borrow (sth) (from sb/sth) to take words, ideas, etc. from another language, person, etc. and use them, as your own :
[ v ]
The author borrows heavily from Henry James.
[ vn ]
Some musical terms are borrowed from Italian.
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IDIOMS
- be (living) on borrowed time
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WHICH WORD
borrow / lend
These two words are often confused. You borrow something from someone else, while they lend it to you:
Can I borrow your pen?
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Can I borrow a pen from you?
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Here, I'll lend you my pen.
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English borgian borrow against security , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German borgen .