ac·quire

[uh-kwahyuhr]
verb (used with object), ac·quired, ac·quir·ing.
1.
to come into possession or ownership of; get as one's own: to acquire property.
2.
to gain for oneself through one's actions or efforts: to acquire learning.
3.
Linguistics. to achieve native or nativelike command of (a language or a linguistic rule or element).
4.
Military. to locate and track (a moving target) with a detector, as radar.

Origin:
1400–50; < Latin acquīrere to add to one's possessions, acquire (ac- ac- + -quīrere, combining form of quaerere to search for, obtain); replacing late Middle English aquere < Middle French aquerre < Latin

ac·quir·a·ble, adjective
ac·quir·a·bil·i·ty, noun
ac·quir·er, noun
pre·ac·quire, verb, pre·ac·quired, pre·ac·quir·ing.
re·ac·quire, verb (used with object), re·ac·quired, re·ac·quir·ing.
self-ac·quired, adjective
un·ac·quir·a·ble, adjective
un·ac·quired, adjective
well-ac·quired, adjective


1. See get. 2. win, earn, attain; appropriate.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Acquired is always a great word to know.
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a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
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World English Dictionary
acquire (əˈkwaɪə) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
vb
(tr) to get or gain (something, such as an object, trait, or ability), esp more or less permanently
 
[C15: via Old French from Latin acquīrere, from ad- in addition + quaerere to get, seek]
 
ac'quirable
 
adj
 
ac'quirement
 
n
 
ac'quirer
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

acquire
mid-15c., from O.Fr. aquerre, from L. acquirere "to seek in addition to" (see acquisition).

acquired
c.1600, "gained by effort," see acquire. Acquired taste is attested from 1858.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

acquired ac·quired (ə-kwīrd')
adj.

  1. Of or relating to a disease, condition, or characteristic that is not congenital but develops after birth.

  2. Developed in response to an antigen, as resistance to a disease by vaccination or previous infection.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Example sentences
Buzz began last year when Doubleday acquired the book for $1.25 million.
In the event it proved a nervous moment-there were only two bidders-and whoever
  acquired it has not been showing it off.
Accordingly, more and more auto mechanics have acquired specialized training
  and educational credentials to match.
Indeed, paleontologists have long puzzled over how turtles acquired their odd
  traits and who their closest relatives are.
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