Entry Word: negotiate

Function: verb

Meaning: 1 to bring about through discussion and compromise <wanted to negotiate a higher salary before she accepted the job offer>

Synonyms arrange, concert, conclude

Related Words settle (on or upon); bargain, chaffer, deal, dicker, haggle, horse-trade, palter; agree; contract, covenant; argue, debate, discuss, hammer (out), hash (over), reason, talk, talk over, work out

2 to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently <she's good at negotiating conflicts between coworkers> — see handle 1
3 to plan out usually with subtle skill or care <the prisoners negotiated their escape by using Morse code to tap messages to each other through the walls> — see engineer
4 to talk over or dispute the terms of a purchase <told them I'd take $8,000 for the car and wasn't in the mood to negotiate> — see bargain