v.
(buys, buying; past and past part. bought)
- obtain in exchange for payment.
▸
(buy someone out)
pay someone to give up an ownership, interest, or share.
▸
(buy oneself out)
obtain one's release from the armed services by payment.
▸
(buy something in)
withdraw something at auction because it fails to reach the reserve price.
- get by sacrifice or great effort.
- informal accept the truth of.
n.
informal a purchase.
Phrase
- buy the farm
N. Amer. informal die. - buy it
informal be killed. - buy time
delay an event temporarily so as to have longer to improve one's own position.
Etymology
OE bycgan, of Gmc origin.