obtain

v.

1. To gain possession

   occupy, reach, invade, capture, recover, take, grab, accomplish, acquire, procure, get, force from, make use of, fetch and carry, bring out, bring back, bring forth, attain, gain, win, secure, achieve, glean, reap, retrieve, recover, collect, gather, earn, pick up, purchase, effect, receive, inherit, salvage, pocket, compass, realize, save, hoard, lay up, corral*, drum up*, scrape up, scrape together*, come by*, score*, nab*, gobble up*, get at*, get hold of*; beg, borrow*, or steal; see also seize 2.

   Antonyms give*, donate*, present. *

2. Pertain

   be pertinent to, appertain to, bear upon; see concern 1.

obtain implies that there is effort or desire in the getting he has obtained aid; get is the word of broadest application meaning to come into possession of, with or without effort or volition to get a job, an idea, a headache, etc.; procure suggests active effort or contrivance in getting or bringing to pass to procure a settlement of the dispute; secure implies difficulty in obtaining something and perhaps in retaining it to secure a lasting peace; acquire implies a lengthy process in the getting and connotes collection or accretion he acquired a fine education; gain always implies effort in the getting of something advantageous or profitable to gain fame