acquire */*/

UK [əˈkwaɪə(r)] / US [əˈkwaɪr] verb [transitive]
Word forms "acquire":
present tense I/you/we/they acquire he/she/it acquires present participle acquiring past tense acquired past participle acquired

1) formal to get something, for example by buying it or being given it

We acquired the shares for £1.75 each.

newly acquired:

his newly acquired BMW

acquire something from someone:

The business was acquired from Orion four years ago.

2) to get new knowledge or a new skill by learning it

How can such a large quantity of knowledge be acquired?

the way children acquire language

3) to get a particular reputation, position, or name

educational institutions that have recently acquired university status

4) to get a disease, illness, or infection

Any drug user who shares a needle is at risk of acquiring AIDS.

5) to gradually develop or learn something

acquire a taste for something (= start to like it):

I've never really acquired a taste for wine.

acquired taste (= something you do not like at first, but gradually start to enjoy):

Decaffeinated coffee is an acquired taste.

acquire the habit (of doing something) (= start to do something regularly, without thinking about why):

We want people to acquire the habit of using public transport instead of their cars.