Main Entry:

ac·quire

Pronunciation:

\ə-ˈkwī(-ə)r\

Function:

transitive verb

Inflected Form(s):

ac·quired; ac·quir·ing

Etymology:

Middle English aqueren, from Anglo-French acquerre, from Latin acquirere, from ad- + quaerere to seek, obtain

Date:

15th century

1: to get as one's own: a: to come into possession or control of often by unspecified means b: to come to have as a new or added characteristic, trait, or ability (as by sustained effort or natural selection) <acquire fluency in French> <bacteria that acquire tolerance to antibiotics> 2: to locate and hold (a desired object) in a detector <acquire a target by radar>