borrowbor‧row /ˈbɒrəʊ $ ˈbɑːroʊ, ˈbɔː-/ ●●● S2 W3 verb [intransitive, transitive] 
Can I borrow your pen for a minute?borrow something from somebody You are allowed to borrow six books from the library at a time. They borrowed heavily (=borrowed a lot of money) from the bank to start their new business. ► Do not confuse borrow and lend (=give someone permission to use something of yours): I borrowed his bike. | Can you lend me your pen?2to take or copy someone’s ideas, words etc and use them in your own work, language etcborrow something from somebody/something I borrowed my ideas from Eliot’s famous poem ‘The Waste Land’. To borrow a phrase (=use what someone else has said), if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.borrow from English has borrowed words from many languages.3borrow trouble American English informal to worry about something when it is not necessary → be living on borrowed time at live1(17), → beg, borrow, or steal at beg(8)
WORD ORIGINborrow
Origin:
Old English borgianVERB TABLE
borrow
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | borrow |
| he, she, it | borrows | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | borrowed |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have borrowed |
| he, she, it | has borrowed | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had borrowed |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will borrow |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have borrowed |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am borrowing |
| he, she, it | is borrowing | |
| you, we, they | are borrowing | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was borrowing |
| you, we, they | were borrowing | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been borrowing |
| he, she, it | has been borrowing | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been borrowing |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be borrowing |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been borrowing |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- By the end of the war the Canadian government had borrowed over $5 billion from its own citizens.
- Can I borrow five pounds off you till next week?
- Can I borrow your car for the weekend?
- Companies normally expect to borrow at cheaper rates than ordinary people have to pay.
- I borrowed this dress from my sister.
- I wish Steve would buy himself a bike. He's always borrowing mine.
- Maxwell had borrowed heavily to finance his business projects.
- Rogers discovered that his own humor worked better than jokes borrowed from other writers.
- She found the poem in a book she'd borrowed off Mrs Parsons.
- Careful as he is to cultivate bankers, Mr Murdoch borrows to avoid being controlled.
- Do not be tempted to borrow from friends or neighbours, nomatterhow desperate you are.
- Everything else is borrowed from other places, and it has that transplanted feel to it.
- Her life was miserable because she could only live in that cycle: borrowing from the trader and selling it to him.
- In 1605, five years after ordination, he borrowed a horse, sold it and disappeared for two years.
- Last month we were able to borrow a votive candle stand, which stands in the Lady Chapel area.
- The interest payable on a Car Loan is added to the capital amount you have borrowed.
Longman Language Activatorto borrow something
if you borrow something from someone, they let you have it, and you agree to give it back to them later: · Can I borrow your pen for a second?· I wish Steve would buy himself a bike. He's always borrowing mine.borrow something from/off somebody: · She found the poem in a book she'd borrowed off Mrs Parsons.· I borrowed this dress from my sister.
also have the loan of British to have someone's permission to borrow something, especially something large or expensive such as a car or boat for a particular length of time: · Could we have the loan of your video camera this weekend?let somebody have the use of something: · Dad usually lets me have the use of his car when he's away on business.
if something is on loan from a library, art collection etc, it has been borrowed from it: · These pictures are on loan from the Paul Getty Collection.be out on loan (=not be available because it has been borrowed): · The librarian phoned to say the book you want is out on loan until next week.
to borrow money if you borrow money from someone, they give it to you, and you agree to pay it back later: · Companies normally expect to borrow at cheaper rates than ordinary people have to pay.borrow something from/off somebody: · Can I borrow five pounds off you till next week?· By the end of the war the Canadian government had borrowed over $5 billion from its own citizens.borrow heavily (=borrow a lot of money): · Maxwell had borrowed heavily to finance his business projects.
to borrow a large amount of money from a bank or company: · Three years ago, we took out a loan to buy our car and we're still paying it off.take out a loan from: · If you take out a loan from the company you have to pay it back within two years.
to pay money so that you can borrow and use something to pay a particular amount of money regularly for the use of a house, office, telephone etc over a period of months or years: · Many young couples rent an apartment until they've saved enough money to buy a house.· I can't afford to rent an office in this part of town.· Do you own your home or are you renting?rent something from somebody/something: · Did you know you can rent a fax machine from the telephone company?for rent (=available to be rented): · Vicky put the house up for rent a month ago, but changed her mind the next day.
especially American hire British to pay money to a company to use a car, or a piece of equipment or clothing for a period of days or hours: · Should we rent a video tonight?· Let's hire a car for the weekend and go and visit Jenny and Steve.· You rented a tuxedo for two hundred dollars? Are you crazy?hire/rent something from somebody/something: · When she got to Dallas she rented a Ford convertible from the Avis desk.
to pay rent for the use of buildings, land, equipment, or a vehicle for a long time, especially for business purposes: · The Cider Press Company leases the machinery and buildings for $1000 a month.· It would work out cheaper overall to lease the computers for the project.lease something from somebody/something: · The building is actually owned by the government -- we're leasing it from them.
to pay money to a company for the use of one of their planes or ships: · A group of journalists chartered an airplane to fly them to Addis Ababa.· International Aid Agencies have chartered ships to transport supplies to the disaster area.
money that is borrowed an amount of money that is borrowed, especially from a bank or company, which you agree to pay back by the end of a period of time: · If you need more money, we can arrange a loan.a £5000/$20,000 loan: · The organization asked for a $2 million loan to plant new trees in the rainforest.take out a loan (=get a loan): · We took out a loan to buy a new car.pay off/repay a loan (=finish paying back what you borrowed): · I can't afford to buy a new sofa until I pay off this loan.bank loan (=money you borrow from a bank): · Cox specialized in assisting borrowers who didn't qualify for bank loans.
a large amount of money that is borrowed from a bank or company in order to buy a house: · The bank says we have to buy a life insurance policy before we can get a mortgage.mortgage on: · Nick told me the mortgage on his apartment is worth about $90,000.take out a mortgage (=arrange to get a mortgage): · Anyone taking out a mortgage should be aware that interest rates can go up at any time.pay off a mortgage (=pay all of it back): · It took my parents nearly thirty years to pay off their mortgage.
money that you pay for borrowing money, especially that you pay every year or every month at a fixed rate: · Credit companies charge huge amounts of interest.interest on: · What's the interest on the loan?
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY They borrowed heavily (=borrowed a lot of money) from the bank to start their new business. To borrow a phrase (=use what someone else has said), if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
They borrowed heavily (=borrowed a lot of money) from the bank to start their new business. To borrow a phrase (=use what someone else has said), if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.· You may be able to borrow some money from the bank.
(also take out a book British English) (=from a library)· You can borrow up to six books from the library.
(=the amount it costs to borrow money from a bank)· Interest rates and borrowing costs are likely to be higher next year.
· In the 1990s, governments worldwide cut military spending.
· Books, CDs, DVDs, and magazines can be borrowed from the library.
(=use a metaphor from another subject, book etc)· To borrow an architectural metaphor, you cannot see the whole building if you focus on the individual bricks.
· They arranged to borrow money from the bank to buy a house.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· Most worrying are smaller companies which borrowed heavily but do not have big banks behind them.· Tuft denies Catania's contentions, although he concedes the company borrows heavily and is not highly profitable.· Many countries would also need to borrow heavily to pay for oil imports.· The center already has dipped into its reserves and anticipates borrowing heavily from the city.· And it is what happened to the Republic of Ireland, where successive administrations borrowed heavily for job creation purposes.· Many firms had borrowed heavily to cover their losses, driving government banks into insolvency.· Samurai retainers, too, borrowed heavily.· As far as styling goes Lakewood are obviously borrowing heavily from the Martin heritage, since in outline these are millimetre-perfect dreadnought copies.
· Those with loans from banks may borrow more in order to pay the higher interest charges.· To do their shareholders a favour, they ought to borrow more.· At the turn of the year the Fed further nudged down interest rates to encourage the banks' customers to borrow more.· Provided that you do not owe too much on credit cards and loans, you may be able to borrow more.· This in turn attracted more lenders into the market, and made borrowing more attractive.· That in effect reduced directors' worries about bankruptcy, pushing them to borrow more.· There has been a collapse in confidence, soaring repossessions and a reluctance by households to borrow more and trade up.· One argument is that if Banks cancelled debts, Third World countries would only borrow more.
NOUN· But don't forget that you only pay interest on the amount you actually borrow.· The interest payable on a Car Loan is added to the capital amount you have borrowed.· Interest is charged only on the amount actually borrowed, not on the total amount available.· Most lenders these days base the amount that you can borrow on your general affordability rather than multiples of your salary.· In most cases the amount that you can borrow is determined by the rent you can charge, not your income.· This will show the maximum amount you can borrow, and over how long you can repay the loan.
· In addition, uncertainty as to future interest rate movements has encouraged bank borrowing rather than debt financing. 2.· Lower rates for banks usually mean reduced borrowing costs for businesses.· Those with loans from banks may borrow more in order to pay the higher interest charges.· The Fed last trimmed overnight bank borrowing costs a quarter of a percentage point, on Dec. 19.· It is primarily an interbank trading market where banks lend and borrow overnight or up to one year on an unsecured basis.· Payment will only be resumed once the group returns to greater profitability and cuts its bank borrowing significantly.
· If you borrow a book make sure you return it as soon as possible.· When some one borrows a book, it is unavailable to other library users until it is returned.· She said she'd just knocked to see if she could borrow a book, but I wasn't falling for that.· Bernstein asked when Hunt had borrowed the book.· They were very glad to borrow the few Penguin books we brought along with us, even though they are not particularly light reading.· You want to borrow the books?· She'd called at the library on her way home and borrowed some books on the Dordogne.· He repaired to it, deposited three dollars, borrowed a book and some sheet music, and then bought a violin.
· You can borrow my car so that you don't get your feet wet.· Floyd was mad for her, but his father refused to let him borrow the car.· He no longer felt the need to borrow cars and go lifting round the shops to relive the boredom.· I can always borrow a car.· Occasionally Yilmaz would go home in a taxi, and the girl would borrow the car for a day or two.· In Phipps the accused borrowed the car to drive his wife to Victoria Station.· As nothing was done, she borrowed the car and made several trips, Philip assisting, to the rubbish dumps.· He then remembered that he was on duty and said he would be more than willing for Harry to borrow his car.
· Shoppers will have more in their pockets and it will not cost companies vast sums to borrow for expansion.· Lower rates make it cheaper for companies to borrow money, which can boost their profits and stock prices.· Property companies became hooked on borrowing in recent years.· Drug companies also are borrowing techniques used in marketing human drugs to sell pet medicines.· Most worrying are smaller companies which borrowed heavily but do not have big banks behind them.· Tuft denies Catania's contentions, although he concedes the company borrows heavily and is not highly profitable.· Bonds are investments issued by governments or companies who wish to borrow money.· First, many large and seemingly reliable companies borrowed money from banks at low rates of interest.
· There were signs that consumers were borrowing more money for big projects.· Previously, the Fed reported that consumer borrowing rose $ 10. 6 billion during October.· There are some signs that consumers are ready to borrow more money for big projects.· The increase in living standards in the twenties was accompanied by a relatively much greater increase in consumer borrowing.· The warning coincided with new figures showing consumer borrowing in October at a 14-year high.
· The high interest rates briefly stunted business, but inflation gradually subsided, and the cost of borrowing dropped.· And higher rates also tend to crimp corporate profits, by raising the cost of borrowing.
· Credit markets are drying up, as investors flee risk, making it harder and more expensive for many firms to borrow.· Remember, though, that firms also borrow money by selling bonds.· Lower interest rates will make it cheaper for firms and individuals to borrow.· Many firms had borrowed heavily to cover their losses, driving government banks into insolvency.
· Do not be tempted to borrow from friends or neighbours, nomatterhow desperate you are.· The next entry is of a dress she often borrowed from her friend Dora, with whom she lived after the divorce.· Thirty years later he had become dependent on borrowing from friends.· As members are in fact borrowing from friends, neighbours or colleagues, the extent of default is minimal.· The mark of every successful entrepreneur is his or her willingness to borrow from family and friends.· Could you live with yourself if you borrowed from family and friends, and then went bust?· Iris borrowed beds from friends and turned the attic into an impromptu dormitory.
· Governments borrow funds for numerous reasons.· Low interest rates boost bonds by making it cheaper to borrow funds in the money market and invest it in bonds.· Banks borrow and lend wholesale funds amongst themselves, dealing through money brokers, for periods ranging from overnight to five years.· They borrow short-term funds and use these funds to purchase higher yielding assets, such as Treasury Bills and commercial bills.· They need to be gradually weaned away from a lifestyle based on borrowed funds.· The discount houses borrow funds from commercial banks, accepting houses, overseas and other banks and from industrial and commercial companies.· The government might then borrow these funds from the banking system.
· The government borrowed from the banks about four-fifths of these deposits, to finance its deficit.· To sustain the boomers while meeting its other obligations, the government will have to borrow vast amounts of money.· In modern times, the issue of paper money or government borrowing from the banks had led to the same results.· The government would have to borrow more outside or spend less. 3.· Less government borrowing reduces the demand for funds, which in turn leads to lower rates.· The government might then borrow these funds from the banking system.· Because the rest of the government borrows from it, it masks the size of the federal deficit.
· Stravinsky confessed that he borrowed the idea from Tchaikovsky and his own example was followed by later composers of specially commissioned scores.· Neither of these nations hesitates to borrow good ideas from the United States.· They borrowed the idea of the tea ceremony, adapting it to the tea gardens meant to separate people from everyday concerns.· He borrows from Plato the idea that matter aspires after form.· Commercial photography constantly borrows ideas and images from the wider cultural domain.· But these agendas overlap, subtly borrow concepts and ideas from each other.· Systems theory borrows ideas from the physical sciences and economics and applies them to organisations.
· Changes in the level of interest rates charged on borrowing, therefore, depend almost wholly upon movements in the base rate.· Business interest, interest paid on money borrowed to use in a trade or business, is always deductible in full.
· The bank uses its triple A debt rating to borrow on world financial markets for its lending programme to middle-income countries.· The increased deficit is to be financed by borrowing on the domestic market, largely from the domestic banking system.· Opted-out hospitals will not be able to borrow on the capital markets or pay junior staff more than other hospitals.
· Finally run out of money and had to borrow train fare from Chamonix to Geneva.· The firm pays interest only on the money it actually borrows, and it borrows the money simply by writing checks.· Markets-where money is lent and borrowed, and paper assets are bought and sold.· People who run their businesses through sole proprietorships, therefore, must keep track of how they spend money that they borrow.· The rise in interest rates was particularly damaging because of the money borrowed to buy Mather & Platt Alarms last October.· In modern times, the issue of paper money or government borrowing from the banks had led to the same results.· She spends the next ten years taking in washing, slaving away to pay back the money they borrowed to replace it.· Money must be borrowed to pay for the deficit, but money must be borrowed to pay interest on the borrowings.
· Well, to borrow another phrase from film, that was then and this is now.
· Lower rates mean lower borrowing costs, increased spending and growing corporate profits.· Changes in the level of interest rates charged on borrowing, therefore, depend almost wholly upon movements in the base rate.· In addition, some subsidy programs help to raise interest rates and thus increase borrowing costs for traditional public activities.
· It has gone on reducing the fantastic levels of public sector borrowing requirement that were reached under the last Government.· Then he got the public sector borrowing requirement wrong.· Public sector borrowing requirement is forecast to rise from £37 billion this year to £44 billion next year.· Nevertheless, obsession with the size of public sector borrowing requirements began at this time.
· You can borrow any sum over £15,000.· I was able to persuade them to borrow large sums of money and speculate.· We borrowed one sum to modernise our premises, which we are paying back long-term.· This was especially so with people who were likely to borrow large sums of money, if they borrowed at all.· Many also allow you to borrow back sums overpaid and take payment holidays.· The Corporation had borrowed large sums of money, used, amongst other purposes for the construction of the Docks.· Wholesale deposits and loans are those by and to firms who want to deposit or borrow large sums of money.
· They also show high stock levels and an increasing reliance on borrowing both long term and short term.· Sometimes it can make sense to borrow short term to avoid unlocking well-placed savings or investments.· In short, to borrow a voguish term, they acquire the competencies which are characteristic of higher education.
· But politicians have borrowed decency from these words with such abandon, they are bankrupt.· When speakers of one language borrow words from another language, the foreign words come to be used as regular vocabulary items.
VERB· Should the bank be unwilling to increase your limit, it may allow you to borrow at a reasonable rate of interest.· It is sufficient that, for instance, the accused is allowed to borrow something.· Many also allow you to borrow back sums overpaid and take payment holidays.· Perhaps you might even allow me to borrow one of your people as a guide around the city.
· During his stay he took much interest in my books and asked to borrow one.· Bernstein asked when Hunt had borrowed the book.· An old acquaintance visiting from California once asked to borrow my Teflon skillet to demonstrate his culinary skills.· When I resisted this idea she asked to borrow the truck.· I ask to borrow a ruler.· Earlier this evening he asked to borrow my new can opener.· She had asked to borrow his pyjama bottoms but he drew the line at that.· She asked to borrow some shears.
· The more weapons they could capture - or preferably beg, borrow or buy - the better their chances.
· Payment will only be resumed once the group returns to greater profitability and cuts its bank borrowing significantly.· Consumers, overloaded with debt, have cut back new borrowing to the slowest rate in two years.
· And later I might let you borrow the pistols to practise on your own.· Floyd was mad for her, but his father refused to let him borrow the car.· An unsecured Car Loan lets you borrow between £500 and £7,500 - quickly and without fuss.· Eventually Phil's dad had let them borrow his garage.
· If it needed a car it borrowed the Army's one.· Shawn is discussing a want or need to borrow money.· When the Czar needed money he usually borrowed it from Rothschild or some banker.· Before the age of the car, few people went into debt; no need to borrow money to buy a horse.· To ensure political accountability, they might need executive approval to borrow up to a higher limit, and legislative approval beyond.· And Angela didn't need to borrow - I imagine you've talked to her solicitors?· Do I need to borrow money?
· To raise or borrow money for the purposes of the association.· And higher rates also tend to crimp corporate profits, by raising the cost of borrowing.
· You can decide how much you want to borrow and the repayment period that suits you best.· If anyone wants to borrow one they can just come over.· Banks may wish to make additional loans, but customers may not want to borrow.· You want to borrow the books?· The principal example for the latter occurs when the shareholder wants to borrow on the security of his shares.· And shaky enterprises have always wanted to borrow money.· He wanted to borrow some money.· When you want to borrow on a mortgage, the prospective lenders will have the property valued at your expense.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1to use something that belongs to someone else and that you must give back to them later: - The designers would beg, borrow, or steal in order to get the show ready.
- As long as Moira was around, Tamar was living on borrowed time.
- But now, as long as they existed, he was living on borrowed time.
Can I borrow your pen for a minute?borrow something from somebody You are allowed to borrow six books from the library at a time. They borrowed heavily (=borrowed a lot of money) from the bank to start their new business. ► Do not confuse borrow and lend (=give someone permission to use something of yours): I borrowed his bike. | Can you lend me your pen?2to take or copy someone’s ideas, words etc and use them in your own work, language etcborrow something from somebody/something I borrowed my ideas from Eliot’s famous poem ‘The Waste Land’. To borrow a phrase (=use what someone else has said), if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.borrow from English has borrowed words from many languages.3borrow trouble American English informal to worry about something when it is not necessary → be living on borrowed time at live1(17), → beg, borrow, or steal at beg(8)