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investment

 - 8 dictionary results

in·vest·ment

   [in-vest-muhnt]
–noun
1.
the investing of money or capital in order to gain profitable returns, as interest, income, or appreciation in value.
2.
a particular instance or mode of investing.
3.
a thing invested in, as a business, a quantity of shares of stock, etc.
4.
something that is invested; sum invested.
5.
the act or fact of investing or state of being invested, as with a garment.
6.
a devoting, using, or giving of time, talent, emotional energy, etc., as for a purpose or to achieve something: His investment in the project included more time than he cared to remember.
7.
Biology. any covering, coating, outer layer, or integument, as of an animal or vegetable.
8.
the act of investing with a quality, attribute, etc.
9.
investiture with an office, dignity, or right.
10.
a siege or blockade; the surrounding of a place with military forces or works, as in besieging.
11.
Also called investment compound. Metallurgy. a refractory material applied in a plastic state to a pattern to make a mold.
12.
Archaic. a garment or vestment.
Use investment in a Sentence
Origin:
1590–1600 for def. 12; 1605–15 for def. 1; invest + -ment

—Related forms
non·re·in·vest·ment, noun
o·ver·in·vest·ment, noun
pre·in·vest·ment, noun
pro·in·vest·ment, adjective
re·in·vest·ment, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To investment
in·vest·ment   (ĭn-věst'mənt)   
n.  

  1. The act of investing.

  2. An amount invested.

  3. Property or another possession acquired for future financial return or benefit.

  4. A commitment, as of time or support.

  5. A military siege.

  6. Archaic

    1. A garment; a vestment.

    2. An outer covering or layer.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: in·vest·ment
Pronunciation: in-'ves(t)-m&nt
Function: noun
1 : an external covering of a cell, part, or organism
2 : a layer of heat-resistant material in which a dental appliance (as a bridge or inlay) is cast or in which it is embedded before soldering
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: in·vest·ment
Function: noun
: INVESTITURE 1

Main Entry: investment
Function: noun
1 : the outlay of money usually for income or profit : capital outlay; also : the sum invested or the property purchased
2 : the commitment of funds with a view to minimizing risk and safeguarding capital while earning a return —compare SPECULATION
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Financial Dictionary

investment

  1. Property acquired for the purpose of producing income for its owner. Just as plants and equipment are investments for manufacturers, stocks and bonds are investments for individuals.

  2. Expenditures made for income-producing assets.


Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms by David L. Scott.
Copyright © 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Cultural Dictionary

investment

The purchase of property with the expectation that its value will increase over time.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Financial Dictionary

Investment

An asset or item that is purchased with the hope that it will generate income or appreciate in the future. In an economic sense, an investment is the purchase of goods that are not consumed today but are used in the future to create wealth. In finance, an investment is a monetary asset purchased with the idea that the asset will provide income in the future or appreciate and be sold at a higher price.

Investopedia Commentary

The building of a factory used to produce goods and the investment one makes by going to college or university are both examples of investments in the economic sense.

In the financial sense investments include the purchase of bonds, stocks or real estate property.

Be sure not to get 'making an investment' and 'speculating' confused. Investing usually involves the creation of wealth whereas speculating is often a zero-sum game wealth is not created. Although speculators are often making informed decisions, speculation cannot usually be categorized as traditional investing.

Related Links

Investing 101: A Tutorial for Beginner Investors
Ten Tips For The Successful Long-Term Investor
Financial Concepts
Five Investing Pitfalls To Avoid, According to Investor's Business Daily
The Five Biggest Stock Market Myths

See also: Appreciation, Asset, Bond, Investing, Investment Club, Real Estate, Speculation, Stock, Zero-Sum Game

Investopedia.com. Copyright © 1999-2005 - All rights reserved. Owned and Operated by Investopedia Inc.
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