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.
  1. to sail close to the wind; luff.
  2. 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

2 acquire, take, get; copy, pirate, plagiarize.

OTHER WORDS FROM borrow

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH borrow

borrow lend loan

Words nearby borrow

borough-english, borrelia, borrelia burgdorferi, borreliosis, borromini, borrow, borrow pit, borrow trouble, borrowed time, borrower's card, borrowing

British Dictionary definitions for borrow trouble (1 of 2)

borrow
/ (ˈbɒrəʊ) /

verb

noun

Derived forms of borrow

borrower, noun

Word 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 trouble (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 trouble (1 of 2)

borrow trouble

Go out of one's way to do something that may be harmful, as in Just sign the will—telling her about it ahead of time is borrowing trouble. [Mid-1800s] Also see ask for, def. 2.

Idioms and Phrases with borrow trouble (2 of 2)

borrow