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pay

pay

 
 
pronunciation:
peI
parts of speech:
noun, adjective, verb
phrases:
pay back, pay off
features:
Word Combinations (noun, verb), Word History, Word Builder, Word Explorer
part of speech: noun
definition: money or something else of value that is given for work.
The workers get their pay every two weeks.
synonyms:
compensation, salary, wage
similar words:
fee, tip
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
 
part of speech: adjective
definition: needing payment of money to work.
I used the pay phone at the store.
similar words:
collect
 
part of speech: verb
inflections: pays, paying, paid
definition 1: to give money to (a person or business) in exchange for things or services.
The company pays the employees every Friday.We paid a plumber to fix the bathroom pipes.
 
definition 2: to give money in exchange for receiving something.
He paid his electricity bill.
definition 3: to be worth doing or be good for you.
It pays to work hard.Crime does not pay.
similar words:
assist, help, serve
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
phrase: pay back, pay off
derivations: payee (n.), payer (n.)
Word History
The word pay goes back to a Latin word that means "to keep peaceful or satisfied." By the Middle Ages, "pay" meant "satisfy someone to whom you owe money."
Word Builder: pay +
  • paycheck:
    payment of your wages in the form of a check.
  • payday:
    the day when you get paid at work.
  • pay stub:
    part of your paycheck that you keep. It shows how much you earned and deductions
Word Explorer
See
  bank, business, money, tax, work