the process by which something, as a word or custom, is adopted or absorbed.
the result of such a process; something borrowed, as a foreign word or phrase or a custom.
Origin of borrowing
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at borrow, -ing1
Related formsnon·bor·row·ing, adjectivepre·bor·row·ing, nounun·bor·row·ing, adjective
borrow
[bor-oh, bawr-oh]
verb (used with object)
to take or obtain with the promise to return the same or an equivalent: Our neighbor borrowed my lawn mower.
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.
Arithmetic. (in subtraction) to take from one denomination and add to the next lower.
verb (used without object)
to borrow something: Don't borrow unless you intend to repay.
Nautical.
to sail close to the wind; luff.
to sail close to the shore.
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
borrow trouble, to do something that is unnecessary and may cause future harm or inconvenience.
Origin of borrow
before 900;Middle Englishborowen,Old Englishborgian to borrow, lend, derivative of borg a pledge; akin to Dutchborg a pledge, borgen to charge, give credit, GermanBorg credit, borgen to take on credit
Related formsbor·row·a·ble, adjectivebor·row·er, nounnon·bor·rowed, adjectivenon·bor·row·er, nouno·ver·bor·row, verbun·bor·rowed, adjectiveCan be confusedborrowlendloan
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
to adopt (ideas, words, etc) from another source; appropriate
not standardto lend
golfto putt the ball uphill of the direct path to the hole
(intr)golf(of a ball) to deviate from a straight path because of the slope of the ground
noun
golfa deviation of a ball from a straight path because of the slope of the grounda left borrow
material dug from a borrow pit to provide fill at another
living on borrowed time
living an unexpected extension of life
close to death
Derived Formsborrower, noun
Word Origin for borrow
Old English borgian; related to Old High German borgēn to take heed, give security
usage
The use of off after borrow was formerly considered incorrect, but is now acceptable in informal contexts
Borrow
noun
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)
Old English borgian "to lend, be surety for," from Proto-Germanic *borg "pledge" (cf. Old English borg "pledge, security, bail, debt," Old Norse borga "to become bail for, guarantee," Middle Dutch borghen "to protect, guarantee," Old High German boragen "to beware of," German borgen "to borrow; to lend"), from PIE *bhergh- "to hide, protect" (see bury). Sense shifted in Old English to "borrow," apparently on the notion of collateral deposited as security for something borrowed. Related: Borrowed; borrowing.
