acquisition
n.-
1 learning a skill (n.) B2 Upper Intermediate Academicthe process of learning or developing a new skill or habit.
the cognitive process of developing a skill, habit, or quality; frequently used in linguistics regarding language learning.
ExampleThe acquisition of a second language is much easier for young children.
ExampleTheories of language acquisition often distinguish between subconscious picking up of a tongue and conscious classroom learning.
UsageOften followed by the preposition 'of'.
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2 buying a company (n.) C1 Advanced Formalthe act of one company buying another company.
the purchase of one corporation by another, or the asset itself after the purchase.
ExampleThe small tech startup was a key acquisition for the global software giant.
ExampleThe board of directors spent months negotiating the acquisition to ensure the merger would not violate antitrust regulations.
UsageCommonly used in the phrase 'mergers and acquisitions'.
- divestment
- sale
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3 getting an object (n.) B2 Upper Intermediatesomething that you have recently bought or obtained, often for a collection.
an object recently obtained, typically one of value or interest to a collection.
ExampleThe museum's latest acquisition is a rare painting from the 17th century.
ExampleHe proudly displayed his newest acquisition, a first-edition novel he had found at a small estate sale.
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4 data collection (n.) C1 Advanced Technical Computingthe process of collecting physical signals and turning them into digital data for a computer.
the process of sampling real-world physical conditions and converting them into digital numeric values.
ExampleThe system allows for the high-speed acquisition of data from the sensors.
ExampleData acquisition hardware must be carefully calibrated to ensure that the digital output accurately reflects the analog input signal.
From Middle English, borrowed from Old French acquisicion, from Latin acquisītiō, from acquirere; equivalent to acquire + -ition.