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Purchase

//ˈpɝ.t͡ʃəs// name, noun, verb

Definitions

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A surname.
  2. 2
    A hamlet in Harrison, New York.
Noun
  1. 1
    The acquisition of title to, or property in, anything for a price; buying for money or its equivalent. countable, uncountable

    "They offer a free hamburger with the purchase of a drink."

  2. 2
    the acquisition of something for payment wordnet
  3. 3
    That which is obtained for a price in money or its equivalent. countable, uncountable

    "He was pleased with his latest purchase."

  4. 4
    a means of exerting influence or gaining advantage wordnet
  5. 5
    That which is obtained, got or acquired, in any manner, honestly or dishonestly; property; possession; acquisition. countable, uncountable
Show 8 more definitions
  1. 6
    the mechanical advantage gained by being in a position to use a lever wordnet
  2. 7
    The act or process of seeking and obtaining something (e.g. property, etc.) countable, obsolete, uncountable

    "I'll […] get meat to save thee, / Or lose my life i’ th’ purchase."

  3. 8
    something acquired by purchase wordnet
  4. 9
    A price paid for a house or estate, etc. equal to the amount of the rent or income during the stated number of years. countable, uncountable

    "Suppose a freehold house to be worth 20 years’ purchase […]"

  5. 10
    Any mechanical hold or advantage, applied to the raising or removing of heavy bodies, as by a lever, a tackle or capstan. also, figuratively, uncountable

    "It is hard to get purchase on a nail without a pry bar or hammer."

  6. 11
    The apparatus, tackle or device by which such mechanical advantage is gained and (in nautical terminology) the ratio of such a device, like a pulley, or block and tackle. countable, uncountable

    "He describes the operation thus: "The heavy ram employed to impart the finishing strokes, hoisted up with double purchase and snail's pace to the summit of the Piling Engine, and then falling down like a thunderbolt on the head of the devoted timber, driving it perhaps a single half inch in to the stratum below, is well calculated to put to the test the virtue of patience, while it illustrates the old adage of—slow and sure.""

  7. 12
    The amount of hold one has from an individual foothold or ledge. uncountable

    "At first, he was climbing down, testing for purchase with his feet. But soon, as the entire section of ground rotated, he was lifted into the air, and up and down flipped around."

  8. 13
    Acquisition of lands or tenements by means other than descent or inheritance, namely, by one's own act or agreement. countable, dated, uncountable

    "The difference […]between the acquisition of an estate by descent and by purchase"

Verb
  1. 1
    To buy, obtain by payment of a price in money or its equivalent.

    "to purchase land, to purchase a house"

  2. 2
    obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction wordnet
  3. 3
    To pursue and obtain; to acquire by seeking; to gain, obtain, or acquire.

    "that loves the thing he cannot purchase"

  4. 4
    To obtain by any outlay, as of labor, danger, or sacrifice, etc.

    "to purchase favor with flattery"

  5. 5
    To expiate by a fine or forfeit.

    "Not tears nor prayers shall purchase out abuses."

Show 3 more definitions
  1. 6
    To apply to (anything) a device for obtaining a mechanical advantage; to get a purchase upon, or apply a purchase to; to raise or move by mechanical means.

    "to purchase a cannon"

  2. 7
    To put forth effort to obtain anything; to strive; to exert oneself.

    "1523–1525, John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners, Froissart's Chronicles Duke John of Brabant purchased greatly that the Earl of Flanders should have his daughter in marriage."

  3. 8
    To constitute the buying power for a purchase, have a trading value.

    "Many aristocratic refugees' portable treasures purchased their safe passage and comfortable exile during the revolution."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English purchasen, from Anglo-Norman purchacer (“seek to obtain”) from pur- (from Latin pro-) + chac(i)er (“to chase, pursue”). Compare Old French porchacier (“to follow, to chase”), which has given French pourchasser (“to chase without relent”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English purchasen, from Anglo-Norman purchacer (“seek to obtain”) from pur- (from Latin pro-) + chac(i)er (“to chase, pursue”). Compare Old French porchacier (“to follow, to chase”), which has given French pourchasser (“to chase without relent”).

See also for "purchase"

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