sacrifice

The definition of a sacrifice is an offering or a giving up of something.

(noun)

  1. An example of sacrifice is a live animal given to honor a diety.
  2. An example of sacrifice is a parent who gives her free time to help her child with his homework.

Sacrifice is defined as to give something up or to sell something at a price which is less than its value.

(verb)

  1. An example of sacrifice is to give up candy for Lent.
  2. An example of sacrifice is to sell a $1,000 car for $800.

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See sacrifice in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

    1. the act of offering the life of a person or animal, or some object, in propitiation of or homage to a deity
    2. something so offered
    1. the act of giving up, destroying, permitting injury to, or forgoing something valued for the sake of something having a more pressing claim
    2. a thing so given up, etc.
    1. a selling or giving up of something at less than its supposed value
    2. the loss incurred
  1. Baseball a sacrifice bunt or sacrifice fly

Origin: OFr < L sacrificium < sacer, sacred + facere, to make, do

transitive verb sacrificed, sacrificing

  1. to offer as a sacrifice to God or a god
  2. to give up, destroy, permit injury to, or forgo (something valued) for the sake of something having a more pressing claim
  3. to sell at less than the supposed value
  4. Baseball to advance (a base runner) by means of a sacrifice

intransitive verb

  1. to offer or make a sacrifice
  2. Baseball to execute a sacrifice

Related Forms:

See sacrifice in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. a. The act of offering something to a deity in propitiation or homage, especially the ritual slaughter of an animal or a person.
    b. A victim offered in this way.
  2. a. Forfeiture of something highly valued for the sake of one considered to have a greater value or claim.
    b. Something so forfeited.
  3. a. Relinquishment of something at less than its presumed value.
    b. Something so relinquished.
    c. A loss so sustained.
  4. Baseball A sacrifice bunt or sacrifice fly.
verb sac·ri·ficed, sac·ri·fic·ing, sac·ri·fic·es
verb, transitive
  1. To offer as a sacrifice to a deity.
  2. To forfeit (one thing) for another thing considered to be of greater value.
  3. To sell or give away at a loss.
verb, intransitive
  1. To make or offer a sacrifice.
  2. Baseball To make a sacrifice bunt or sacrifice fly.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Latin sacrificium

Origin: : sacer, sacred; see sacred

Origin: + facere, to make; see dhē- in Indo-European roots

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Related Forms:

  • sacˈri·ficˌer noun

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