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bribe

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The definition of a bribe is money or other items of value given to entice someone to do what you want.

(noun)

A sum of $500 paid to a police officer not to arrest you is an example of a bribe.

To bribe someone is to offer something of value in exchange for the person doing what you want.

(verb)

When you offer a city building inspector $500 to give you a positive inspection report on a sub par construction project, this is an example of a situation where you bribe the inspector.

See bribe in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

anything, esp. money, given or promised to induce a person to do something illegal or wrong
anything given or promised to induce a person to do something against his or her wishes

Origin: ME < OFr, morsel of bread given to beggars < briber, to beg

transitive verb bribed, bribing

to offer or give a bribe to
to get or influence by bribing

intransitive verb

to give a bribe or bribes

Related Forms:

bribable adjective
briber noun

See bribe in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

Something, such as money or a favor, offered or given to a person in a position of trust to influence that person's views or conduct.
Something serving to influence or persuade.

verb bribed bribed, brib·ing, bribes

verb, transitive

To give, offer, or promise a bribe to.

verb, intransitive

To give, offer, or promise bribes.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old French, piece of bread given as alms

Related Forms: