Definitions for borrow
ˈbɒr oʊ, ˈbɔr oʊbor·row

Princeton's WordNet(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. borrow(verb)

   get temporarily

   "May I borrow your lawn mower?"

2. adopt, borrow, take over, take up(verb)

   take up and practice as one's own

Webster Dictionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Borrow(verb)

   to receive from another as a loan, with the implied or expressed intention of returning the identical article or its equivalent in kind; -- the opposite of lend

2. Borrow(verb)

   to take (one or more) from the next higher denomination in order to add it to the next lower; -- a term of subtraction when the figure of the subtrahend is larger than the corresponding one of the minuend

3. Borrow(verb)

   to copy or imitate; to adopt; as, to borrow the style, manner, or opinions of another

4. Borrow(verb)

   to feign or counterfeit

5. Borrow(verb)

   to receive; to take; to derive

6. Borrow(noun)

   something deposited as security; a pledge; a surety; a hostage

7. Borrow(noun)

   the act of borrowing

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Borrow

   bor′ō, v.t. to obtain on loan or trust: to adopt from a foreign source: to derive one's authority from another (with from, of).—p.adj. Borr′owed, taken on loan, counterfeit, assumed.—n. Borr′ower.—Borrowing days, the last three days of March (O.S.), supposed in Scotch folklore to have been borrowed by March from April, and to be especially stormy. [A.S. borgian—borg, borh, a pledge, security.]

The Foolish Dictionary, by Gideon Wurdz(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. BORROW

   v. t., to swap hot air for cold coin.

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. borrow

   Apply for and receive money from a bank or other approved financial institution under an agreement to repay an agreed amount and instalment over a specific period of time.

   We decided to borrow some money to purchase a new car and repay it back over a period of three years.

   Submitted by MC Harmonious on December 2, 2015  

2. borrow

   Obtain and receive money from a bank or other approved financial institution under agreement to repay at an agreed amount, installments and period of time.

   They decided to borrow money from the bank for a house and arranged an agreed amount, installments and period of time.

   Submitted by MC Harmonious on September 8, 2015  

British National Corpus

1. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'borrow' in Written Corpus Frequency: #2002

2. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'borrow' in Verbs Frequency: #563

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of borrow in Chaldean Numerology is: 8

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of borrow in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of borrow in a Sentence

1. Alice Ammerman:

   We can borrow from different cultures and their benefits.

2. American Indian Proverb:

   We do not inherit the land, we borrow it from our children.

3. Ian Bezek:

   I'd normally just short the stock, but it is difficult to borrow.

4. Ian Bezek:

   I’d normally just short the stock, but it is difficult to borrow.

5. Vikrant Parsai:

   Neither lend money to a great man nor borrow it from a powerful one.

Images & Illustrations of borrow

Popularity rank by frequency of use