pay1

[pey] /peɪ/
verb (used with object), paid or ( Obsolete, except for def 12 ) payed, paying.
1.
to settle (a debt, obligation, etc.), as by transferring money or goods, or by doing something:
Please pay your bill.
2.
to give over (a certain amount of money) in exchange for something:
He paid twenty dollars for the shirt.
3.
to transfer money as compensation or recompense for work done or services rendered; to satisfy the claims of (a person, organization, etc.), as by giving money due:
He paid me for my work.
4.
to defray (cost or expense).
5.
to give compensation for.
6.
to yield a recompense or return to; be profitable to:
Your training will pay you well in the future.
7.
to yield as a return:
The stock paid six percent last year.
8.
to requite, as for good, harm, or an offense:
How can I pay her for her kindness and generosity?
9.
to give or render (attention, respects, compliments, etc.), as if due or fitting.
10.
to make (a call, visit, etc.).
11.
to suffer in retribution; undergo:
You'll pay the penalty for your stubbornness!
12.
Nautical. to let (a ship) fall off to leeward.
verb (used without object), paid, paying.
13.
to transfer money, goods, etc., as in making a purchase or settling a debt.
14.
to discharge a debt or obligation.
15.
to yield a return, profit, or advantage; be worthwhile:
It pays to be courteous.
16.
to give compensation, as for damage or loss sustained.
17.
to suffer or be punished for something:
The murderer paid with his life.
noun
18.
the act of paying or being paid; payment.
19.
wages, salary, or a stipend.
20.
a person with reference to solvency or reputation for meeting obligations:
The bank regards him as good pay.
21.
paid employment:
in the pay of the enemy.
22.
reward or punishment; requital.
23.
a rock stratum from which petroleum is obtained.
adjective
24.
requiring subscribed or monthly payment for use or service:
pay television.
25.
operable or accessible on deposit of a coin or coins:
a pay toilet.
26.
of or pertaining to payment.
Verb phrases, past and past participle paid or ( Obsolete, except for def 30c ) payed, present participle paying.
27.
pay down,
  1. to pay (part of the total price) at the time of purchase, with the promise to pay the balance in installments:
    On this plan you pay only ten percent down.
  2. to pay off or back; amortize:
    The company's debt is being paid down rapidly.
28.
pay for, to suffer or be punished for:
to pay for one's sins.
29.
pay off,
  1. to pay (someone) everything that is due that person, especially to do so and discharge from one's employ.
  2. to pay (a debt) in full.
  3. Informal. to bribe.
  4. to retaliate upon or punish.
  5. Nautical. to fall off to leeward.
  6. to result in success or failure:
    The risk paid off handsomely.
30.
pay out,
  1. to distribute (money, wages, etc.); disburse.
  2. to get revenge upon for an injury; punish.
  3. to let out (a rope) by slackening.
31.
pay up,
  1. to pay fully.
  2. to pay on demand:
    The gangsters used threats of violence to force the shopkeepers to pay up.
Idioms
32.
pay as you go,
  1. to pay for (goods, services, etc.) at the time of purchase, as opposed to buying on credit.
  2. to spend no more than income permits; keep out of debt.
  3. to pay income tax by regular deductions from one's salary or wages.
33.
pay back,
  1. to repay or return:
    to pay back a loan.
  2. to retaliate against or punish:
    She paid us back by refusing the invitation.
  3. to requite.
34.
pay one's / its way,
  1. to pay one's portion of shared expenses.
  2. to yield a return on one's investment sufficient to repay one's expenses:
    It will take time for the restaurant to begin paying its way.
Origin
1150-1200; Middle English payen < Old French paier < Medieval Latin pācāre to satisfy, settle (a debt), Latin: to pacify (by force of arms). See peace
Synonyms
1. discharge, liquidate. 3. reward, reimburse, indemnify. 19. remuneration, emolument, fee, honorarium, income, allowance. Pay, wage or wages, salary, stipend are terms for amounts of money or equivalent benefits, usually given at a regular rate or at regular intervals, in return for services. Pay is the general term: His pay went up every year. Wage usually designates the pay given at an hourly, daily, or weekly rate, often for manual or semiskilled work; wages usually means the cumulative amount paid at regular intervals for such work: an hourly wage; weekly wages. Salary designates a fixed, periodic payment for regular work or services, usually computed on a monthly or yearly basis: an annual salary paid in twelve equal monthly installments. Stipend designates a periodic payment, either as a professional salary or, more commonly, as a salary in return for special services or as a grant in support of creative or scholarly work: an annual stipend for work as a consultant; a stipend to cover living expenses.

pay2

[pey] /peɪ/
verb (used with object), payed, paying. Nautical
1.
to coat or cover (seams, a ship's bottom, etc.) with pitch, tar, or the like.
Origin
1620-30; < Middle French peier, Old French < Latin picāre to smear with pitch, derivative of pix (stem pic-) pitch2
Examples from the web for pay
  • How executives' pay stacks up against a company's earnings or stock market performance is rarely laid out.
  • Television advertisers will pay immense sums of money to ensure a captive audience.
  • Profit is good, it is a reward for providing a product people want at a price they are willing to pay.
  • Her idea was to raise money to pay for corrective surgery and medical care.
  • The only way to pay their salaries is to sell the drug and recoup that money.
  • These notes are not money, but promises to pay money.
  • The bad economy is putting the brakes on pay increases for public-university leaders.
  • Performance-related pay is the norm, and redundancy commonplace.
  • The questions are hypothetical, and people may react differently when and if pay walls actually go up.
  • Places that will recycle your obsolete electronics-and they might even pay you for it.
British Dictionary definitions for pay

pay1

/peɪ/
verb pays, paying, paid
1.
to discharge (a debt, obligation, etc) by giving or doing something: he paid his creditors
2.
when intr, often foll by for. to give (money) to (a person) in return for goods or services: they pay their workers well, they pay by the hour
3.
to give or afford (a person) a profit or benefit: it pays one to be honest
4.
(transitive) to give or bestow (a compliment, regards, attention, etc)
5.
(transitive) to make (a visit or call)
6.
(intransitive) often foll by for. to give compensation or make amends
7.
(transitive) to yield a return of: the shares pay 15 per cent
8.
to give or do (something equivalent) in return; pay back: he paid for the insult with a blow
9.
(tr; past tense and past participle paid or payed) (nautical) to allow (a vessel) to make leeway
10.
(Austral, informal) to acknowledge or accept (something) as true, just, etc
11.
pay one's way
  1. to contribute one's share of expenses
  2. to remain solvent without outside help
noun
12.
  1. money given in return for work or services; a salary or wage
  2. (as modifier): a pay slip, pay claim
13.
paid employment (esp in the phrase in the pay of)
14.
(modifier) requiring the insertion of money or discs before or during use: a pay phone, a pay toilet
15.
(modifier) rich enough in minerals to be profitably mined or worked: pay gravel
See also pay back, pay down, pay for, pay in, pay off, pay out, pay up
Word Origin
C12: from Old French payer, from Latin pācāre to appease (a creditor), from pāxpeace

pay2

/peɪ/
verb pays, paying, payed
1.
(transitive) (nautical) to caulk (the seams of a wooden vessel) with pitch or tar
Word Origin
C17: from Old French peier, from Latin picāre, from pix pitch
Word Origin and History for pay
v.

c.1200, "to appease, pacify, satisfy," from Old French paier "to pay, pay up" (12c., Modern French payer), from Latin pacare "to please, pacify, satisfy" (in Medieval Latin especially "satisfy a creditor"), literally "make peaceful," from pax (genitive pacis) "peace" (see peace). Meaning "to give what is due for goods or services" arose in Medieval Latin and was attested in English by early 13c.; sense of "please, pacify" died out in English by 1500. Sense of "suffer, endure" (a punishment, etc.) is first recorded late 14c. Related: Paid; paying.

n.

c.1300, "satisfaction, liking, reward," from pay (v.), or else from Old French paie "payment, recompense," from paier. Meaning "money given for labor or services, wages" is from late 14c.

Slang definitions & phrases for pay

pay

Related Terms

hell to pay


Idioms and Phrases with pay

pay

also see: