n.
- the practice or an act of killing an animal or person or surrendering a possession as an offering to a deity.
▸an animal, person, or object offered in this way.
- an act of giving up something of value for the sake of something that is of greater value or importance.
-
(also sacrifice bunt or sacrifice fly)
Baseball a bunted or fly ball which puts the batter out but allows a base-runner to advance.
v.
offer or give up as a sacrifice.
Derivative
- sacrificial adj.
- sacrificially adv.
Etymology
ME: from OFr., from L. sacrificium; rel. to sacrificus ‘sacrificial’, from sacer ‘holy’.