acquire : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: acquire	by the DICT Development Group
2 results for acquire
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
acquire v come into the possession of something concrete or abstract; "She got a lot of paintings from her uncle"; "They acquired a new pet"; "Get your results the next day"; "Get permission to take a few days off from work" Synonym(s): get, acquire take on a certain form, attribute, or aspect; "His voice took on a sad tone"; "The story took a new turn"; "he adopted an air of superiority"; "She assumed strange manners"; "The gods assume human or animal form in these fables" Synonym(s): assume, acquire, adopt, take on, take come to have or undergo a change of (physical features and attributes); "He grew a beard"; "The patient developed abdominal pains"; "I got funny spots all over my body"; "Well-developed breasts" Synonym(s): grow, develop, produce, get, acquire locate (a moving entity) by means of a tracking system such as radar win something through one's efforts; "I acquired a passing knowledge of Chinese"; "Gain an understanding of international finance" Synonym(s): acquire, win, gain Antonym(s): lose gain knowledge or skills; "She learned dancing from her sister"; "I learned Sanskrit"; "Children acquire language at an amazing rate" Synonym(s): learn, larn, acquire gain through experience; "I acquired a strong aversion to television"; "Children must develop a sense of right and wrong"; "Dave developed leadership qualities in his new position"; "develop a passion for painting" Synonym(s): develop, acquire, evolve
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Acquire \Acquire"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Acquired}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Acquiring}.] [L. acquirere, acquisitum; ad + quarere to seek for. In OE. was a verb aqueren, fr. the same, through OF. aquerre. See {Quest}..] To gain, usually by one's own exertions; to get as one's own; as, to acquire* a title, riches, knowledge, skill, good or bad habits. No virtue is acquired in an instant, but step by step. --Barrow. Descent is the title whereby a man, on the death of his ancestor, acquires his estate, by right of representation, as his heir at law. --Blackstone. Syn: To obtain; gain; attain; procure; win; earn; secure. See {Obtain}.