–verb (used with object)

1.	to acquire the possession of, or the right to, by paying or promising to pay an equivalent, esp. in money; purchase.

2.	to acquire by exchange or concession: to buy favor with flattery.

3.	to hire or obtain the services of: The Yankees bought a new center fielder.

4.	to bribe: Most public officials cannot be bought.

5.	to be the monetary or purchasing equivalent of: Ten dollars buys less than it used to.

6.	Chiefly Theology. to redeem; ransom.

7.	Cards. to draw or be dealt (a ca b09 rd): He bought an ace.

8.	Informal. a. to accept or believe: I don't buy that explanation. b. to be deceived by: He bought the whole story.

–verb (used without object)

9.	to be or become a purchaser.

–noun

10.	an act or instance of buying.

11.	something bought or to be bought; purchase: That coat was a sensible buy.

12.	a bargain: The couch was a real buy.

—Verb phrases

13.	buy down, to lower or reduce (the mortgage interest rate) by means of a buy-down.

14.	buy in, a. to buy a supply of; accumulate a stock of. b. to buy back one's own possession at an auction. c. to undertake a buy-in. Also, buy into.

15.	buy into, to purchase a share, interest, or membership in: They tried to buy into the club but were not accepted.

16.	buy off, to get rid of (a claim, opposition, etc.) by payment; purchase the noninterference of; bribe: The corrupt official bought off those who might expose him.

17.	buy out, to secure all of (an owner or partner's) share or interest in an enterprise: She bough 23d t out an established pharmacist and is doing very well.

18.	buy up, to buy as much as one can of something or as much as is offered for sale: He bought up the last of the strawberries at the fruit market.

—Idiom

19.	buy it, Slang. to get killed: He bought it at Dunkirk.

–adjective

1.	costing very little; relatively low in price; inexpensive: a cheap dress.

2.	costing little labor or trouble: Words are cheap.

3.	charging low prices: a very cheap store.

4.	of little account; of small value; mean; shoddy: cheap conduct; cheap workmanship.

5.	embarrassed; sheepish: He felt cheap about h 535 is mistake.

6.	obtainable at a low rate of interest: when money is cheap.

7.	of decreased value or purchasing power, as currency depreciated due to inflation.

8.	stingy; miserly: He's too cheap to buy his own brother a cup of coffee.

–adverb

9.	at a low price; at small cost: He is willing to sell cheap.

—Idioms

10.	cheap at twice the price, exceedingly inexpensive: I found this old chair for eight dollars—it would be cheap at twice the price.

11.	on the cheap, Informal. inexpensively; economically: She enjoys traveling on the cheap.