procure

[proh-kyoo r, pruh-] /proʊˈkyʊər, prə-/
verb (used with object), procured, procuring.
1.
to obtain or get by care, effort, or the use of special means:
to procure evidence.
2.
to bring about, especially by unscrupulous and indirect means:
to procure secret documents.
3.
to obtain (a person) for the purpose of prostitution.
verb (used without object), procured, procuring.
4.
to act as a procurer or pimp.
Origin
1250-1300; Middle English procuren < Latin prōcūrāre to take care of. See pro-1, cure
Related forms
procurement, noun
self-procured, adjective
self-procuring, adjective
unprocured, adjective
Can be confused
procuration, procurement.
Synonyms
1. gain, win. See get. 2. contrive. 4. pander, pimp.
Antonyms
1. lose.
Examples from the web for procure
  • Many find ways to procure cheaper produce, even to live off the land with tiny plots they stake out outside the towns.
  • The obvious choices--a spaceship, an orchard, glittering jewels--prove too difficult to procure.
  • Meanwhile his institution and others are working to procure good data.
  • When he did procure prime ingredients — fresh tofu from Chinatown, for example — the variations were legion and sublime.
  • In this latter assignment I had to procure my own piling and took a small detachment to cut timber in the jungle forests.
  • This is they must procure a dispensation from local ecclesiastical authorities.
  • Such early sales help a developer procure financing for a project.
  • Some global companies may be able to procure supplies from elsewhere.
  • Thus by all means that may be they procure to have gold and silver among them in reproach and infamy.
  • Of all the components used, the magnet may be the most difficult to procure.
British Dictionary definitions for procure

procure

/prəˈkjʊə/
verb
1.
(transitive) to obtain or acquire; secure
2.
to obtain (women or girls) to act as prostitutes
Derived Forms
procurable, adjective
procurance, procural, noun
Word Origin
C13: from Latin prōcūrāre to look after, from pro-1 + cūrāre to care for
Word Origin and History for procure
v.

c.1300, "bring about, cause, effect," from Old French procurer "care for, be occupied with; bring about, cause; acquire, provide" (13c.) and directly from Late Latin procurare "manage, take care of;" from pro- "in behalf of" (see pro-) + curare "care for" (see cure (v.)). Main modern sense "obtain; recruit" (late 14c.) is via "take pains to get" (mid-14c.). Meaning "to obtain (women) for sexual gratification" is attested from c.1600. Related: Procured; procuring.