Pay
English Meaning
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.
- To give money to in return for goods or services rendered: pay the cashier.
- To give (money) in exchange for goods or services: paid four dollars for a hamburger; paid an hourly wage.
- To discharge or settle (a debt or obligation): paying taxes; paid the bill.
- To give recompense for; requite: a kindness that cannot be paid back.
- To give recompense to; reward or punish: I'll pay him back for his insults.
- To bear (a cost or penalty, for example) in recompense: She paid the price for her unpopular opinions.
- To yield as a return: a savings plan that paid six percent interest.
- To afford an advantage to; profit: It paid us to be generous.
- To give or bestow: paying compliments; paying attention.
- To make (a visit or call).
- To let out (a line or cable) by slackening.
- To give money in exchange for goods or services.
- To discharge a debt or obligation.
- To bear a cost or penalty in recompense: You'll pay for this mischief!
- To be profitable or worthwhile: It doesn't pay to get angry.
- Of, relating to, giving, or receiving payments.
- Requiring payment to use or operate: a pay toilet.
- Yielding valuable metal in mining: a pay streak.
- The act of paying or state of being paid.
- Money given in return for work done; salary; wages.
- Recompense or reward: Your thanks are pay enough.
- Retribution or punishment.
- Paid employment: the workers in our pay.
- A person considered with regard to his or her credit or reliability in discharging debts.
- pay off To pay the full amount on (a debt).
- pay off To effect profit: a bet that paid off poorly.
- pay off To get revenge for or on; requite.
- pay off To pay the wages due to (an employee) upon discharge.
- pay off Informal To bribe.
- pay off Nautical To turn or cause to turn (a vessel) to leeward.
- pay out To give (money) out; spend.
- pay out To let out (a line or rope) by slackening.
- pay up To give over the full monetary amount demanded.
- pay (one's) dues To earn a given right or position through hard work, long-term experience, or suffering: She paid her dues in small-town theaters before being cast in a Broadway play.
- pay (one's) way To contribute one's own share; pay for oneself.
- pay the piper To bear the consequences of something.
- pay through the nose Informal To pay excessively.
- To coat or cover (seams of a ship, for example) with waterproof material such as tar or asphalt.