Borrowing

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈbɔrəwɪŋ/

Definitions

1. The act of taking something for temporary use ; the action of obtaining money from another as a loan ; the process of adopting a word or idea from a different language or culture
2. Temporarily transferring possession of an item ; securing funds by loan for personal or business use ; incorporating elements from another linguistic or cultural system
3. Using something belonging to someone else for a limited time ; getting money with an obligation to repay ; adopting foreign words or concepts into one's own language or customs

Etymology: Borrow traces back to Old English "borgian," meaning to give or take a pledge, and it is related to "borh," a surety or guarantee. The original idea was standing security for a debt, not simply taking something from someone. This noun is formed by adding the suffix -ing to borrow. The sense of adopting foreign words or customs is a figurative extension. A loan of vocabulary works like a financial one, except that the language rarely gives it back.

Synonyms: loaning, lending, taking, acquiring, leasing

Antonyms: returning, repaying, giving, relinquishing, surrendering