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>