buy and purchase share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. buy means “obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction”. purchase means “the acquisition of something for payment”. buy is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/ˈbaɪ/
1.v.obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
“The family purchased a new car”
2.v.make illegal payments to in exchange for favors or influence
“This judge can be bought”
3.v.be worth or be capable of buying
“This sum will buy you a ride on the train”
/ˈpɝtʃəs/
1.n.the acquisition of something for payment
“they closed the purchase with a handshake”
2.n.something acquired by purchase
3.n.a means of exerting influence or gaining advantage
“he could get no purchase on the situation”
| buy | purchase | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈbaɪ/ | /ˈpɝtʃəs/ |
| Said | bahy | PUR-chuhs |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Letters | 3 | 8 |
| Parts of speech | verb, noun | noun, verb |
| Senses | 6 | 5 |
| How common | Core | Common |
| Synonyms | purchase | none recorded |
Full entry for buy · Full entry for purchase · More comparisons