borrow

¹ American  

[bor-oh, bawr-oh] / ˈbɒr oʊ, ˈbɔr oʊ /

verb (used with object)

1. to take or obtain with the promise to return the same or an equivalent.

   Our neighbor borrowed my lawn mower.

2. to use, appropriate, or introduce from another source or from a foreign source.

   to borrow an idea from the opposition;

   to borrow a word from French.

   Synonyms:

   plagiarize, pirate, copy, get, take, acquire

3. Arithmetic. (in subtraction) to take from one denomination and add to the next lower.

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verb (used without object)

1. to borrow something.

   Don't borrow unless you intend to repay.

2. Nautical.

   1. to sail close to the wind; luff.

   2. to sail close to the shore.

3. Golf. to putt on other than a direct line from the lie of the ball to the hole, to compensate for the incline or roll of the green.

idioms

1. borrow trouble, to do something that is unnecessary and may cause future harm or inconvenience.

Borrow ² American  

[bor-oh, bawr-oh] / ˈbɒr oʊ, ˈbɔr oʊ /

noun

1. George, 1803–81, English traveler, writer, and student of languages, especially Romani.

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borrow ¹ British  

/ ˈbɒrəʊ /

verb

1. to obtain or receive (something, such as money) on loan for temporary use, intending to give it, or something equivalent or identical, back to the lender

2. to adopt (ideas, words, etc) from another source; appropriate

3. not_standard to lend

4. golf to putt the ball uphill of the direct path to the hole

5. (intr) golf (of a ball) to deviate from a straight path because of the slope of the ground

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noun

1. golf a deviation of a ball from a straight path because of the slope of the ground

   a left borrow

2. material dug from a borrow pit to provide fill at another

3. 1. living an unexpected extension of life

   2. close to death

Borrow ² British  

/ ˈbɒrəʊ /

noun

1. George ( Henry ). 1803–81, English traveller and writer. His best-known works are the semiautobiographical novels of Gypsy life and language, Lavengro (1851) and its sequel The Romany Rye (1857)

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borrow More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing borrow

• beg, borrow, or steal
• on borrowed time

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Usage

The use of off after borrow was formerly considered incorrect, but is now acceptable in informal contexts

Other Word Forms

• Borrovian adjective
• borrowable adjective
• borrower noun
• nonborrowed adjective
• nonborrower noun
• overborrow verb
• unborrowed adjective

Etymology

Origin of borrow

First recorded before 900; Middle English borowen, Old English borgian “to borrow, lend,” verb derivative of borg “a pledge”; cognate with Dutch borg “a pledge,” borgen “to charge, give credit,” German Borg “credit,” borgen “to take on credit”

Example Sentences

Rate rises in Japan ripple through global markets and might even push up the cost of borrowing in the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal

If a business cannot be saved, the company's belongings may be sold so that some of the borrowed money can be repaid, which is known as liquidation.

From BBC

The hit from First Brands had a magnified effect on Great Elm stock because the company has borrowed about $200 million to boost returns.

From The Wall Street Journal

The EU will borrow money for the loan on the capital markets rather than relying on debt issued by member states.

From The Wall Street Journal

Short sellers borrow shares and sell them immediately in anticipation of being able to buy them back later at what they expect to be a lower price.

From Barron's

Related Words

• acquire
• adopt
• assume
• copy
• obtain
• steal
• use