buy

UK: baɪ | US: baɪ

Definition
  1. vt. to obtain something by paying money for it

  2. vt. to accept or believe something as true (informal)

  3. n. an act of purchasing something

Structure

No data yet.

Etymology

The word "buy" traces back to Old English bycgan, meaning "to acquire in exchange for payment." It evolved from Proto-Germanic bugjaną, linked to trade and exchange. Unlike many modern English words with clear Latin/Greek roots, "buy" retains its Germanic simplicity, reflecting its ancient role in basic commerce. No further morpheme division is meaningful, as it is a core verb with unbroken historical continuity.

Examples
  1. She decided to buy a new laptop for her studies.

  2. He didn’t buy the excuse she gave for being late.

  3. The company made a strategic buy of its competitor’s shares.

  4. Can you buy some groceries on your way home?

  5. They bought into the idea after seeing the evidence.