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Buy vs Gain - What's the difference?

buy | gain |

In lang=en terms the difference between buy and gain

is that buy is to make a purchase or purchases, to treat (for a meal) while gain is to put on weight.

As verbs the difference between buy and gain

is that buy is to obtain (something) in exchange for money or goods while gain is to acquire possession of what one did not have before.

As nouns the difference between buy and gain

is that buy is something which is bought; a purchase while gain is the act of gaining or gain can be (architecture) a square or bevelled notch cut out of a girder, binding joist, or other timber which supports a floor beam, so as to receive the end of the floor beam.

As a preposition gain is

(obsolete) against.

As an adjective gain is

(obsolete) straight, direct; near; short.

As an adverb gain is

(obsolete) straightly; quickly; by the nearest way or means.

buy

English

Verb

  • To obtain (something) in exchange for money or goods
  • * Benjamin Franklin
  • Buy what thou hast no need of, and ere long thou wilt sell thy necessaries.
  • To obtain by some sacrifice.
  • * Bible, Proverbs xxiii. 23
  • Buy the truth and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
  • To bribe.
  • To be equivalent to in value.
  • (informal) to accept as true; to believe
  • To make a purchase or purchases, to treat (for a meal)
  • (poker slang) To make a bluff, usually a large one.
  • Synonyms

    * purchase * (accept as true) accept, believe, swallow (informal), take on * make a buy

    Antonyms

    * sell, vend * (accept as true) disbelieve, reject, pitch

    Derived terms

    * bring-and-buy * buyable * buyer * buy back * buy into * buy it * buy to let * buy off * buy out * buy someone off * buy someone out * buy straw hats in winter * buy the farm * buy time * buy up * can I buy you a drink * impulse buy * money can't buy happiness * outbuy * rebuy

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Something which is bought; a purchase.
  • Antonyms

    * sale

    Derived terms

    * buydown * buyout * impulse buy

    gain

    English

    Etymology 1

    From dialectal English (m), (m), short for (m), . More at (l).

    Preposition

    (English prepositions)
  • (obsolete) Against.
  • Derived terms
    * (l)

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) (m), (m), , from the adjective.

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (obsolete) Straight, direct; near; short.
  • the gainest way
  • (obsolete) Suitable; convenient; ready.
  • (dialectal) Easy; tolerable; handy, dexterous.
  • (dialectal) Honest; respectable; moderate; cheap.
  • Derived terms
    * (l) * (l)

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • (obsolete) Straightly; quickly; by the nearest way or means.
  • (dialectal) Suitably; conveniently; dexterously; moderately.
  • (dialectal) Tolerably; fairly.
  • gain quiet (= fairly/pretty quiet)

    Etymology 3

    From (etyl) (m), . The Middle English word was reinforced by (etyl) . Related to (l), (l).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The act of gaining.
  • * Tennyson
  • the lust of gain
  • What one gains, as a return on investment or dividend.
  • No pain, no gain .
  • * Shakespeare
  • Everyone shall share in the gains .
  • (electronics) The factor by which a signal is multiplied.
  • Antonyms
    * loss
    Derived terms
    * autogain * gainful * gainsome

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To acquire possession of what one did not have before.
  • Looks like you've gained a new friend.
  • * Bible, Matthew xvi. 26
  • What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
  • * Alexander Pope
  • For fame with toil we gain , but lose with ease.
  • To have or receive advantage or profit; to acquire gain; to grow rich; to advance in interest, health, or happiness; to make progress.
  • The sick man gains daily.
  • * Bible, Ezekiel xxii. 12
  • Thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion.
  • (dated) To come off winner or victor in; to be successful in; to obtain by competition.
  • to gain''' a battle; to '''gain a case at law
  • To increase.
  • * 1883 , (Howard Pyle), (The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood)
  • Then they had bouts of wrestling and of cudgel play, so that every day they gained in skill and strength.
  • To be more likely to catch or overtake an individual.
  • I'm gaining (on you).
    gain ground
  • To reach.
  • to gain the top of a mountain
  • * 1907 , Jack London, The Iron Heel :
  • Ernest laughed harshly and savagely when he had gained the street.
  • To draw into any interest or party; to win to one's side; to conciliate.
  • * Bible, Matthew xviii. 15
  • If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
  • * Dryden
  • to gratify the queen, and gain the court
  • To put on weight.
  • I've been gaining .
  • (of a clock or watch) To run fast.
  • Etymology 4

    Compare (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (architecture) A square or bevelled notch cut out of a girder, binding joist, or other timber which supports a floor beam, so as to receive the end of the floor beam.
  • Anagrams

    * (l) * (l) * (l), (l) ----