What does "acquire" mean?

1. (to buy or obtain) to get something, often by buying it or being given it. 2. (to learn or develop) to learn a new skill or start to have a certain habit or quality. 3. (to catch a disease) to become infected with a disease or medical condition. 4. (to collect data) to collect signals or information and turn them into digital data. 5. (to track a target) to find and start following a moving target with a camera or weapon system.

acquire

US //əˈkwaɪɝ// UK //ɐkwˈaɪə// ac·quire

1 to buy or obtain (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

to get something, often by buying it or being given it.

to come into possession or ownership of an object or asset. Transitive — requires a direct object.

Example

The local museum managed to acquire several rare paintings from a private collector.

Example

The corporation moved quickly to acquire its smaller competitor, aiming to consolidate its market share before the end of the fiscal year.
2 to learn or develop (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

to learn a new skill or start to have a certain habit or quality.

to develop a skill, habit, or quality through a gradual process of learning or experience.

Example

It takes many years of practice to acquire a high level of skill in playing the piano.

Example

Children typically acquire their first language naturally through social interaction rather than through formal instruction.

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3 to catch a disease (v.)
C1 Advanced Technical Medicine

to become infected with a disease or medical condition.

to contract or become affected by a pathogen or medical condition. Often used in clinical contexts to describe how a patient became ill.

Example

The doctor explained that the patient had acquired the infection while traveling abroad.

Example

Hospital-acquired infections remain a significant challenge for healthcare providers despite rigorous sanitisation protocols.
- contract
- catch
4 to collect data (v.)
C1 Advanced Technical Computing

to collect signals or information and turn them into digital data.

to sample physical signals and convert them into digital values for processing. Usually takes 'data' or 'signals' as an object.

Example

The sensors acquire data every millisecond to ensure the readings are accurate.

Example

The system is designed to acquire and process high-resolution imagery in real-time for environmental monitoring.
- capture
- sample
5 to track a target (v.)
C2 Proficiency Technical Military

to find and start following a moving target with a camera or weapon system.

to detect and begin tracking a mobile target with a sensor, radar, or sight, typically as a precursor to engagement.

Example

The pilot was able to acquire the target despite the heavy cloud cover.

Example

Once the radar system acquires the incoming projectile, the automated defence battery calculates an intercept trajectory within seconds.
- detect
- track
- lock on
- lose

Origin

From Middle English acqueren, from Old French aquerre, from Latin acquirō; ad- + quaerō (“to seek for”). See quest.