meaning of pay
1. To cover, as bottom of a vessel, a seam, a spar, etc. , with tar or pitch, or waterproof composition of tallow, resin, etc. ; to smear.
2. To satisfy, or content; specifically, to satisfy (another person) for service rendered, property delivered, etc. ; to discharge ones obligation to; to make due return to; to compensate; to remunerate; to recompense; to requite; as, to pay workmen or servants.
3. Hence, figuratively: To compensate justly; to requite according to merit; to reward; to punish; to retort or retaliate upon.
4. To discharge, as a debt, demand, or obligation, by giving or doing what is due or required; to deliver the amount or value of to the person to whom it is owing; to discharge a debt by delivering (money owed).
5. To discharge or fulfill, as a duy; to perform or render duty, as that which has been promised.
6. To give or offer, without an implied obligation; as, to pay attention; to pay a visit.
7. To give a recompense; to make payment, requital, or satisfaction; to discharge a debt.
8. Hence, to make or secure suitable return for expense or trouble; to be remunerative or profitable; to be worth the effort or pains required; as, it will pay to ride; it will pay to wait; politeness always pays.
9. Satisfaction; content.
10. An equivalent or return for money due, goods purchased, or services performed; salary or wages for work or service; compensation; recompense; payment; hire; as, the pay of a clerk; the pay of a soldier.
11. something that remunerates; "wages were paid by check"; "he wasted his pay on drink"; "they saved a quarter of all their
">earnings"
Related Words
pay | pay as you earn | pay back | pay cash | pay claim | pay cut | pay dirt | pay envelope | pay for | pay heed | pay off | pay out | pay packet | pay rate | pay up | pay-phone | pay-station | payable | payables | payback | paycheck | payday | paye | payee | payen | payena | payer | paygrade | paying | paying attention |
