{
    "term": "acquire",
    "partOfSpeech": "verb",
    "academic": true,
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "b2",
    "verbForms": {
        "presentSimple": {
            "iYouWeThey": "acquire",
            "heSheIt": "acquires"
        },
        "pastSimple": "acquired",
        "pastParticiple": "acquired",
        "ingForm": "acquiring"
    },
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to gain something by your own efforts, ability or behaviour",
            "sensetop": "acquire something",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She has **acquired** a good **knowledge** of English."
                },
                {
                    "text": "How long will it take to **acquire** the necessary **skills**?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I would love to apply these **newly acquired** skills to a job that I enjoy."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He has acquired a reputation for dishonesty."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I have recently acquired a taste for olives."
                },
                {
                    "text": "When you have acquired a basic range of computing skills, you will be ready to start the job."
                },
                {
                    "text": "to acquire a love of something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "to acquire a bad name/​criminal record/​tan/​look/​appearance"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to obtain something by buying or being given it",
            "sensetop": "acquire something",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Not all of the **land acquired** for the road has been paid for yet."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The country has pledged not to **acquire** nuclear **weapons**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "**Property acquired** through crime will be confiscated."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The company has just acquired new premises."
                },
                {
                    "text": "How did the gallery come to acquire so many Picassos?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I've suddenly acquired a stepbrother."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "a thing that you do not like much at first but gradually learn to like",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Abstract art is an acquired taste."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Preferences and decisions"]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/əˈkwaɪə(r)/",
                "audio": "ac/acquire/acquire__gb_2.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/əˈkwaɪəz/",
                "audio": "ac/acquire/acquires__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/əˈkwaɪəd/",
                "audio": "ac/acquire/acquired__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/əˈkwaɪərɪŋ/",
                "audio": "ac/acquire/acquiring__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/əˈkwaɪər/",
                "audio": "ac/acquire/acquire__us_2.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/əˈkwaɪərz/",
                "audio": "ac/acquire/acquires__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/əˈkwaɪərd/",
                "audio": "ac/acquire/acquired__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/əˈkwaɪərɪŋ/",
                "audio": "ac/acquire/acquiring__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "late Middle English acquere, from Old French aquerre, based on Latin acquirere ‘get in addition’, from ad- ‘to’ + quaerere ‘seek’. The English spelling was modified (c.1600) by association with the Latin word."
}