procure

/procure/

Definition

Verb (Transitive):
- To obtain or acquire something, especially with care, effort, or special means. This often implies overcoming some difficulty or using specific methods to get something that is not easily available.
- To bring about or cause something to happen or exist.
Verb (Intransitive, Archaic/Legal):
- To act as a procurer; to provide someone, typically for sexual services. This usage is now rare, formal, or specific to legal contexts.

Usage

As a transitive verb, "procure" is followed by a direct object (the thing obtained or caused).
It often carries a formal or business-like tone.
The intransitive meaning related to procuring sexual partners is highly specific and largely obsolete in general use.

Examples

Transitive Verb (Obtain):
- The manager managed to procure the necessary funding for the project.
- It was difficult to procure fresh fruit during the winter months.
Transitive Verb (Cause):
- His careless remarks procured him a great deal of trouble.
Intransitive Verb (Archaic/Legal):
- The law forbids anyone to procure for prostitution.

Advanced Usage

Legal/Formal Contexts: "Procure" is common in legal, business, and formal writing to mean "obtain by formal means."
- The company procured a contract with the government.
"Procure for": To obtain something on behalf of someone else.
- Can you procure tickets for the concert for our group?

Variants and Related Words

Procurable (adj): Able to be obtained or acquired.
- The spare parts are no longer procurable.
Procurement (n): The action of obtaining or procuring something, especially for an organization.
- He works in the department of procurement.
Procurer (n): A person who procures, especially one who procures sexual partners for others (an archaic or legal term).

Synonyms

Acquire: To come into possession or ownership of.
Secure: To obtain something, often with a sense of making it safe or certain.
Obtain: To get or acquire something.
Attain: To succeed in achieving something after effort.

Antonyms

Phrasal Verbs / Related Constructions

Procure from: To obtain something from a specific source.
- We procured the materials from a local supplier.

Idioms / Fixed Phrases

To procure someone's services: To formally arrange for or hire someone's professional work.
- We have procured the services of a leading architect.
To procure by unlawful means: A legal phrase indicating something was obtained illegally.
- The evidence was procured by unlawful means and was inadmissible in court.

Verb

arrange for sexual partners for others
get by special effort
- He procured extra cigarettes even though they were rationed

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