Search results for 'borrow':

borrow verb (borrowed, borrowing) 1 to take something temporarily, usually with permission and with the intention of returning it. 2 intrans to get money in this way, from a bank, etc. 3 to take, adopt or copy (words or ideas, etc) from another language or person, etc • images borrowed from traditional Russian folklore. 4 intrans, golf to make allowance for slope or wind, especially by putting the ball uphill of the hole. borrower noun. borrowing noun something borrowed, especially a word taken from one language into another. borrow trouble US colloq to take a particular course of action that brings oneself extra problems that would otherwise have been avoided. British equivalent ask for trouble. live on borrowed time see under live¹.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon borgian, from borg a pledge or security.