Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
purchase
I. verb
I. pur‧chase1 W3 AC /ˈpɜːtʃəs, ˈpɜːtʃɪs $ ˈpɜːr-/ verb [transitive]
[Word Family: noun: purchase, purchaser; verb: purchase; adjective: purchasable]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: purchacier 'to try to get', from chacier 'to run after and try to catch']
formal to buy something:
• You can purchase insurance online.
• the growing demand to purchase goods on credit
• Where did you purchase the car?
purchase from
• Tickets may be purchased in advance from the box office.
—purchasable adjective
—purchaser noun [countable]:
• France was the no. 1 purchaser of Iraqi oil.
THESAURUS
▪ buy to pay money for something so that you can own it: • I’ve just bought a new car. | • The painting was bought by a museum in New York.
▪ purchase formal to buy something, especially something large or expensive, in a business deal or by a legal contract: • They purchased 5,000 acres of land.
▪ acquire formal to become the owner of something large or expensive such as property, a company, or a valuable object: • In 2007 the business was acquired by a Dutch company. | • Television companies were then allowed to acquire more stations.
▪ get especially spoken to buy something, especially ordinary things such as food, clothes, or things for your house: • Did you remember to get some bread? | • I never know what to get Dad for his birthday.
▪ snap something up informal to buy something immediately, especially because it is very cheap, or because you want it very much and you are worried that someone else might buy it first: • Real estate in the area is being snapped up by developers.
▪ pick something up informal to buy something, especially something ordinary such as food or a newspaper, or something that you have found by chance and are pleased about owning: • Could you pick up some milk on your way home? | • It’s just a little thing I picked up when I was in Kathmandu.
▪ stock up to buy a lot of something you use regularly, because you may not be able to buy it later, or because you are planning to use more of it than usual: • The supermarkets are full of people stocking up for the New Year’s holiday. | • We always stock up on cheap wine when we go to France. | • Before the blizzard, we stocked up on food.
▪ splash out British English informal, splurge American English informal to buy something you would not usually buy, because it is too expensive, in order to celebrate an event or make yourself feel good: • Why don’t you splash out on a new dress for the party? | • We splurged on an expensive hotel for the last night of the vacation.
II. noun
II. purchase2 W3 AC noun
[Word Family: noun: purchase, purchaser; verb: purchase; adjective: purchasable]
1. [uncountable and countable] formal something you buy, or the act of buying it:
• She paid for her purchases and left.
day/date/time of purchase
• This product should be consumed on the day of purchase.
• I enclose my receipt as proof of purchase.
purchase of
• a loan towards the purchase of a new car
• She made two purchases from my stall. ⇨ hire purchase, purchase price
2. [singular] formal a firm hold on something
gain/get a purchase on something
• The ice made it impossible to get a purchase on the road.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
purchase
pur·chaseAW[purchasepurchasespurchasedpurchasing]noun,verb [ˈpɜːtʃəs] [ˈpɜːrtʃəs]
noun(formal)
1. uncountable, countable the act or process of buying sth
• to make a purchase (= buy sth)
• Keep your receipt as proof of purchase.
• The company has just announced its £27 million purchase of Park Hotel.
see also hire purchase
2. countable something that you have bought
• major purchases, such as a new car
• If you are not satisfied with your purchase we will give you a full refund.
3. uncountable, singular (technical) a firm hold on sth with the hands or feet, for example when you are climbing
Syn: grip
• She tried to get a purchase on the slippery rock.
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French pourchacier ‘seek to obtain or bring about’, the earliest sense also in English, which soon gave rise to the senses ‘gain’ and ‘buy’.
Collocations:
Shopping
Shopping
go/go out/be out shopping
go to (especially BrE) the shops/(especially NAmE) a store/(especially NAmE) the mall
do (BrE) the shopping/(especially NAmE) the grocery shopping/a bit of window-shopping
(NAmE, informal) hit/hang out at the mall
try on clothes/shoes
indulge in some retail therapy
go on a spending spree
cut/cut back on/reduce your spending
be/get caught shoplifting
donate sth to/take sth to/find sth in (BrE) a charity shop/(NAmE) a thrift store
buy/sell/find sth at (BrE) a car boot sale/(BrE) a jumble sale/a garage sale/(NAmE) a yard sale
find/get/pick up a bargain
At the shop/store
load/push/wheel (BrE) a trolley/(NAmE) a cart
stand in/wait in (BrE) the checkout queue/(NAmE) the checkout line
(NAmE) stand in line/ (BrE) queue at the checkout
bag (especially NAmE) (your) groceries
pack (away) (especially BrE) your shopping
stack/stock/restock the shelves at a store (with sth)
be (found) on/appear on supermarket/shop/store shelves
be in/have in/be out of/run out of stock
deal with/help/serve customers
run a special promotion
be on special offer
Buying goods
make/complete a purchase
buy/purchase sth online/by mail order
make/place/take an order for sth
buy/order sth in bulk/in advance
accept/take credit cards
pay (in) cash/by (credit/debit) card/(BrE) with a gift voucher/(NAmE) with a gift certificate
enter your PIN number
ask for/get/obtain a receipt
return/exchange an item/a product
be entitled to/ask for/demand a refund
compare prices
offer (sb)/give (sb)/get/receive a 30% discount
Example Bank:
• Companies are moving away from outright purchase of company cars to leasing.
• Consumers make a lot of impulse purchases.
• He entered a hire purchase agreement with a car dealer.
• I did not notice the defects at the time of purchase.
• Keep your receipt as proof of purchase.
• Make sure all online purchases are made through a secure server.
• The company uses software to analyze consumer purchases.
• The council applied for a compulsory purchase order on the the tennis courts.
• Ticket holders should return to the point of purchase for a refund.
• You can resell books and cut the original cost of purchase.
• big-ticket purchases such as cars or refrigerators
• some ways to encourage customers to make a purchase
• the bulk purchase of paper
verb~ sth (from sb) (formal)
to buy sth
• The equipment can be purchased from your local supplier.
• They purchased the land for $1 million.
• Please ensure that you purchase your ticket in advance.
• (figurative) Victory was purchased (= achieved) at too great a price.
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French pourchacier ‘seek to obtain or bring about’, the earliest sense also in English, which soon gave rise to the senses ‘gain’ and ‘buy’.
Thesaurus:
purchase verb T (formal)
• Please ensure that you purchase your ticket in advance.
buy • • take • |especially spoken get • |informal pick sth up • • snap sth up • |formal acquire •
purchase/buy/get/pick up/snap up/acquire sth for £10, $2 million, etc.
purchase/buy/get/acquire sth from sb
purchase/buy/get/snap up/acquire (a) property/company/house
purchase/buy/get/acquire land/premises/a site/tickets
Example Bank:
• The land was compulsorily purchased from the owner to make way for the new road.
• They purchased the house from an elderly couple.
• They purchased the land for $1 million.
• Tickets can be purchased online.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
purchase
purchase (HOLD) /ˈpɜː.tʃəs/ US /ˈpɝː-/
noun [S or U] FORMAL
a firm hold which allows someone or something to be pulled or lifted without sliding or falling:
Dancers use a special powder on their shoes to help them get a better purchase on the floor.
purchase (BUY) /ˈpɜː.tʃəs/ US /ˈpɝː-/
verb [T] FORMAL
to buy:
Tickets must be purchased two weeks in advance.
Except under clearly defined circumstances, it is illegal in Britain for a company to purchase its own shares.
She purchased her first house with the money.
purchase /ˈpɜː.tʃəs/ US /ˈpɝː-/
noun FORMAL
1 [C] something that you buy:
How do you wish to pay for your purchases?
a major purchase
2 [C or U] the act of buying something:
New restrictions have been placed on the purchase of guns.
A house is the most expensive purchase that most people ever make.
No purchase is necessary for you to enter this competition.
This product may be frozen. If required, freeze on day of purchase.
purchaser /ˈpɜː.tʃə.səʳ/ US /ˈpɝː.tʃə.sɚ/
noun [C] FORMAL
the person who buys something:
We haven't been able to find a purchaser for our house yet.
Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
purchase
[pɜ͟ː(r)tʃɪs]
purchases, purchasing, purchased
1) VERB When you purchase something, you buy it. [FORMAL]
[V n] He purchased a ticket and went up on the top deck...
[V n] Most of those shares were purchased from brokers.
Syn:
buy
Derived words:
purchaser plural N-COUNT The broker will get 5% if he finds a purchaser... The group is the second largest purchaser of fresh fruit in the US.
2) N-UNCOUNT: oft N of n The purchase of something is the act of buying it. [FORMAL]
→ See also hire purchase
This week he is to visit China to discuss the purchase of military supplies.
3) N-COUNT A purchase is something that you buy. [FORMAL]
She opened the tie box and looked at her purchase. It was silk, with maroon stripes.
4) N-UNCOUNT: also a N If you get a purchase on something, you manage to get a firm grip on it. [FORMAL]
I got a purchase on the rope and pulled...
I couldn't get any purchase with the screwdriver on the damn screws.
Syn:
hold, grip