If a company or business person makes an acquisition, they buy another company or part of a company.
[business]
...the acquisition of a profitable paper recycling company. [+ of]
...the number of mergers and acquisitions made by Europe's 1,000 leading firms.
2. countable noun
If you make an acquisition, you buy or obtain something, often to add to things that you already have.
How did you go about making this marvellous acquisition then?
...the President's recent acquisition of a helicopter. [+ of]
Synonyms: acquiring, gaining, achievement, procurement More Synonyms of acquisition
3. countable noun
You can use acquisition to refer to an object that you buy or obtain, often to add to things that you already have.
From her wardrobe Laura took her latest acquisition, a bright red dress.
Synonyms: purchase, buy, investment, property More Synonyms of acquisition
4. uncountable noun [noun NOUN]
The acquisition of a skill or a particular type of knowledge is the process of learning it or developing it.
...language acquisition.
acquisition in British English
(ˌækwɪˈzɪʃən)
noun
1.
the act of acquiring or gaining possession
2.
something acquired
3.
a person or thing of special merit added to a group
4. astronautics
the process of locating a spacecraft, satellite, etc, esp by radar, in order to gather tracking and telemetric information
Word origin
C14: from Latin acquīsītiōn-, from acquīrere to acquire
acquisition in American English
(ˌækwəˈzɪʃən)
noun
1.
an acquiring or being acquired
2.
something or someone acquired or added
Word origin
L acquisitio < pp. of acquirere, acquire
acquisition in Finance
(ækwɪzɪʃən)
noun
(Finance: Corporate)
An acquisition is the act of buying another company or part of a company.
The company has said it will now explore other opportunities for expansion, and itis expected to use the proceeds from the deal to help finance another acquisition.
A management buyout is the acquisition of a company by its management team, assisted by external or other financing.
An acquisition is the act of buying another company or part of a company.
COBUILD Collocations
acquisition
further acquisitions
overseas acquisitions
possible acquisition
potential acquisition
Examples of 'acquisition' in a sentence
acquisition
It has managed to increase dividends over the past few years while continuing to make acquisitions.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The report forecasts merger and acquisitions activity will hit $3 trillion next year.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Expect heavy mergers and acquisitions activity in Germany.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In the back office, the priorities are around integration resulting from mergers and acquisitions and systems consolidation.
Computing (2010)
This means looking at where venture capital is going, checking out company mergers and acquisitions and looking at the research literature.
Computing (2010)
This investment trust has delivered exceptional returns over the past few years by riding a wave of mergers, acquisitions and innovation.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
There has been anxiety that the board could have an incentive to make acquisitions that are not in the company's interests.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It has interests including power, aviation and healthcare and used acquisitions to build up its oil and gas business before energy prices slumped.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It's in the process of completing an acquisition that will make it the largest pharmacy chain in the US.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It has used acquisitions to make big leaps.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There are two ways in which the logical problem of language acquisition could be argued away.
Salkie, Raphael The Chomsky Update - Linguistics and Politics (1990)
He will also be responsible for winning new business and exploring acquisitions.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The outlook for mergers and acquisitions is the worst for many years.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Together they sealed some of the biggest merger and acquisition deals of the decade.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
This simple fact puts the acquisition process in a new light.
Salkie, Raphael The Chomsky Update - Linguistics and Politics (1990)
The group will use the funds to add to its acquisition war chest.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
One key claim is that there is no limit on the power that knowledge acquisition can confer.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
They admired his expertise and his acquisition skills.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The fresh funding may also allow it to make acquisitions.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Her case is used to support the theory that there are critical periods for language acquisition.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It found that mergers and acquisitions are now the top priority for companies.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The only thing that could derail it is a big acquisition.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
But there is no difficulty in reconstructing this unconscious process of acquisition.
Salkie, Raphael The Chomsky Update - Linguistics and Politics (1990)
This needs to be done on a detailed and thoughtful basis which can only come as part of major acquisition reform.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
They are also favoured in an economy that is built around information, consumer acquisition and service.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It is the group 's first acquisition since it was rescued from administration almost two years ago.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The proceeds of about 6 million will be used for acquisitions or further cash returns in future.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Winning this makes a huge difference to us because it allows us to reinvest the interest we would normally pay back into buying further acquisitions.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Where there is no obvious target for acquisition, the company is prepared to try to build something from scratch.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
There is little else to concern investors in the halfway figures, with advances pretty well across the business and contributions from the two recent acquisitions.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
That now sits on deposit as the group seeks bolt-on acquisitions of virtual casino and poker operations and looks for an entry into online sports betting.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Underlying organic growth was 2 per cent, which shows the importance of acquisitions to its business model.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Depending on the outcome of that, it could decide to take the matter no further or could refer the acquisition for an in-depth investigation.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Only sale of the company, acquisition of another company in the same industry, or merger will produce a business of the needed size.
Peter F. Drucker MANAGING FOR RESULTS (1986)
In other languages
acquisition
British English: acquisition NOUN
If a company or business person makes an acquisition, they buy another company or part of a company.
...the acquisition of a profitable paper recycling company.
American English: acquisition
Brazilian Portuguese: aquisição
Chinese: 收购
European Spanish: adquisición
French: acquisition
German: Erwerb
Italian: acquisizione
Japanese: 買収
Korean: 인수
European Portuguese: aquisição
Latin American Spanish: adquisición
All related terms of 'acquisition'
acquisition costs
Acquisition costs are the total costs of writing or issuing an insurance policy .
acquisition accounting
an accounting procedure in which the assets of a company that has recently been taken over are changed from the book value to the fair market value
possible acquisition
If a company or business person makes an acquisition , they buy another company or part of a company.
potential acquisition
If a company or business person makes an acquisition , they buy another company or part of a company.
acquisition opportunity
An opportunity is a situation in which it is possible for you to do something that you want to do.
data acquisition system
A data acquisition system is a system that acquires data, generally by digitizing analog channels and storing the data in digital form.
Chinese translation of 'acquisition'
acquisition
(ækwɪˈzɪʃən)
n
(c) (= thing obtained) 获(獲)得物 (huòdéwù)
(u) (= getting)
[of property, goods]获(獲)得 (huòdé)
[of habit]形成 (xíngchéng)
[of skill]习(習)得 (xídé)
1 (noun)
Definition
the act of acquiring something
the President's recent acquisition of a helicopter
Synonyms
acquiring
gaining
achievement
It is the achievement of these goals that will bring lasting peace.
procurement
attainment
the attainment of independence
acquirement
obtainment
2 (noun)
Definition
something acquired, often to add to a collection
her latest acquisition, a bright red dress
Synonyms
purchase
She opened the bag and looked at her purchases.
buy
a good buy
investment
Shoes that clip onto the pedals are a good investment for keen cyclists.
property
gain
He buys art solely for financial gain.
prize
A settlement of the dispute would be a great prize.
asset
possession
Additional synonyms
in the sense of achievement
Definition
the successful completion of something
It is the achievement of these goals that will bring lasting peace.