borrow
[ bor-oh, bawr-oh ]
/ ˈbɒr oʊ, ˈbɔr oʊ /
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 for borrow
borrow trouble,
to do something that is unnecessary and may cause future harm or inconvenience.
Origin of borrow
before 900; Middle English
borowen, Old English
borgian to borrow, lend, derivative of
borg a pledge; akin to Dutch
borg a pledge,
borgen to charge, give credit, German
Borg credit,
borgen to take on credit
SYNONYMS FOR borrow
OTHER WORDS FROM borrow
Words nearby borrow
Definition for borrow (2 of 2)
Borrow
[ bor-oh, bawr-oh ]
/ ˈbɒr oʊ, ˈbɔr oʊ /
noun
George,1803–81,
English traveler, writer, and student of languages, especially Romany.
OTHER WORDS FROM Borrow
Bor·ro·vi·an [buh-roh-vee-uh n] /bəˈroʊ vi ən/, adjective, nounExample sentences from the Web for borrow
British Dictionary definitions for borrow (1 of 2)
borrow
/ (ˈbɒrəʊ) /
verb
noun
Derived forms of borrow
borrower, nounWord Origin for borrow
Old English
borgian; related to Old High German
borgēn to take heed, give security
usage for borrow
The use of
off after
borrow was formerly considered incorrect, but is now acceptable in informal contexts
British Dictionary definitions for borrow (2 of 2)
Borrow
/ (ˈbɒrəʊ) /
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)
Idioms and Phrases with borrow
borrow