donate
v.-
1 to give to charity (v.) B1 Intermediateto give something of value, like money or clothes, to help a charity or a person in need.
to provide money, goods, or services to a charitable organisation or cause without expecting payment.
ExampleEvery year, the family donates their old clothes to the local shelter.
ExampleThe anonymous benefactor chose to donate a significant portion of his estate to the university's medical research department.
UsageUsually follows the pattern 'donate something to someone/something'.
PitfallHe donated the charity some money.He donated some money to the charity.Unlike 'give', 'donate' cannot take an indirect object directly. You must donate 'something TO someone'.
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2 medical donation (v.) B2 Upper Intermediate Medicineto allow doctors to take your blood or an organ to help a sick person.
to provide blood, plasma, or organs for medical use in transfusions or transplants.
ExampleHe goes to the hospital every few months to donate blood.
ExampleThe campaign encourages citizens to donate bone marrow to help patients suffering from rare blood disorders.
UsageCommonly used with 'blood', 'organs', or 'plasma' as the direct object.
Circa 1845, back-formation from donation on the basis of -ate (verb-forming suffix), chiefly found in American English. Ultimately from Latin dōnāre (“to give”).