borrow

Where “borrow” sits in English frequency

Definition

1. 1
   To receive (something) from somebody temporarily, expecting to return it.
2. 2
   To receive money from a bank or other lender under the agreement that the lender will be paid back over time.
3. 3
   To adopt (an idea) as one's own.
4. 4
   To adopt a word from another language.
5. 5
   In a subtraction, to deduct (one) from a digit of the minuend and add ten to the following digit, in order that the subtraction of a larger digit in the subtrahend from the digit in the minuend to which ten is added gives a positive result.
6. 6
   To lend.
7. 7
   To temporarily obtain (something) for (someone).
8. 8
   To feign or counterfeit.
9. 9
   To secure the release of (someone) from prison.
10. 10
    To receive (something, usually of trifling value) from somebody, with little possibility of returning it.
11. 11
    To interrupt the current activity of (a person) and lead them away in order to speak with them, get their help, etc.
12. 12
    To adjust one's aim in order to compensate for the slope of the green.

Etymology

From Middle English borwen, borȝien, Old English borgian (“to borrow, lend, pledge surety for”), from Proto-West Germanic *borgōn, from Proto-Germanic *burgōną (“to pledge, take care of”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰergʰ- (“to take care”). Cognate with Dutch borgen (“to borrow, trust”), German borgen (“to borrow, lend”), Danish borge (“to vouch”). Related to Old English beorgan (“to save, preserve”). More at bury.

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: bborrow,bororw,borow,borroww,borrwo,brorow,obrrow

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of borrow - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

Frequently Asked Questions