bribe
[ brahyb ]
/ braɪb /
noun
money or any other valuable consideration given or promised with a view to corrupting the behavior of a person, especially in that person's performance as an athlete, public official, etc.: The motorist offered the arresting officer a bribe to let him go.
anything given or serving to persuade or induce: The children were given candy as a bribe to be good.
verb (used with object), bribed, brib·ing.
to give or promise a bribe to: They bribed the reporter to forget about what he had seen.
to influence or corrupt by a bribe: The judge was too honest to be bribed.
verb (used without object), bribed, brib·ing.
to give a bribe; practice bribery.
Words nearby bribe
Origin of bribe
1350–1400; Middle English < Middle French: remnant of food given as alms, said to be < an expressive base *bri(m)b- denoting something small
OTHER WORDS FROM bribe
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Examples from the Web for bribe
British Dictionary definitions for bribe
bribe
/ (braɪb) /
verb
to promise, offer, or give something, usually money, to (a person) to procure services or gain influence, esp illegally
noun
a reward, such as money or favour, given or offered for this purpose
any persuasion or lure
a length of flawed or damaged cloth removed from the main piece
Derived forms of bribe
bribable or bribeable, adjectivebriber, nounWord Origin for bribe
C14: from Old French briber to beg, of obscure origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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