Main Entry: bor·row

Pronunciation: \ˈbär-(ˌ)ō, ˈbȯr-\

Function: verb

Etymology: Middle English borwen, from Old English borgian; akin to Old English beorgan to preserve — more at bury

Date: before 12th century

transitive verb 1 a : to receive with the implied or expressed intention of returning the same or an equivalent <borrow a book> <borrowed a dollar> b : to borrow (money) with the intention of returning the same plus interest
2 a : to appropriate for one's own use <borrow a metaphor> b : derive, adopt
3 : to take (one) from a digit of the minuend in arithmetical subtraction in order to add as 10 to the digit holding the next lower place
4 : to adopt into one language from another
5 dialect : lendintransitive verb : to borrow something

— bor·row·er \-ə-wər\ noun

— borrow trouble : to do something unnecessarily that may result in adverse reaction or repercussions