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Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
obtain
verb
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
achieve/obtain a result
▪ You can achieve the same result by simply clicking on the menu.
achieve/obtain/gain statehood
▪ Utah obtained statehood in 1896.
difficult (for sb) to understand/find/obtain etc
▪ That’s rather difficult for me to explain.
▪ He’s finding it difficult to get a job.
get/gain/obtain a licence
▪ New private pilots must fly for at least fifty hours before getting their licences.
get/obtain a confession
▪ Threats must not be used in order to obtain confessions.
get/obtain a grant
▪ You may be able to get a grant to learn a trade.
get/obtain credit (=be allowed to buy sth on credit)
▪ The economic situation is making it more difficult for people to get credit.
get/obtain/seek advice from an expert (=ask an expert for information or advice)
▪ Don’t make big financial decisions without first seeking advice from an expert.
get/receive/obtain/win approval
▪ For over twenty years it was impossible for NASA to get approval for this mission.
obtain a permit (=more formal than 'get')
▪ Hunters are required to obtain a permit.
obtained the services
▪ Lydia obtained the services of a qualified nurse.
obtaining money by deception
▪ He was convicted of obtaining money by deception.
obtain...injunction
▪ They failed to obtain an injunction.
obtain/secure a conviction (=make someone be found guilty)
▪ The prosecution had obtained a conviction based on false evidence.
obtain/secure employmentformal (= get employment)
▪ He found it difficult to obtain employment because of his criminal record.
obtain...signature
▪ Each child must obtain the signature of his or her parents.
receive/obtain/get a mandate
▪ On this issue he does seem to have received a clear mandate from the electorate.
win/obtain/gain/secure a concession
▪ In the end, the strikers returned to work having won few concessions.
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ NOUN
advice
▪ You should be able to obtain advice from a dietitian at the hospital on diet and food supplements.
▪ No one recommended to Mrs. O'Brien that she should obtain legal advice.
▪ Anyone injured at work can obtain advice quickly from their local citizen's advice bureau.
▪ The first principle must be to obtain good advice.
▪ However, studies demonstrate that obstructions on the way of obtaining legal advice have different effects on different sorts of people.
▪ We list here some other places where you may be able to obtain help or advice.
▪ Ample opportunity appeared to exist for local people to obtain free advice on basic legal problems.
▪ The key element is to obtain professional advice on the value of the assets at current use and for development.
approval
▪ By noon he had obtained Nate's approval and had won the day.
▪ These people will help you prepare plans, obtain building regulation approval, planning permission if needed find and supervise a builder.
▪ But it was Triton that managed to obtain the approvals to explore the field.
▪ Southern Water had not yet set in train the expensive process of obtaining Agrement Board approval.
▪ The council says it hopes to obtain final approval and make the drug available by the end of this year.
▪ It took several months to obtain approval and construction work started only in August 1984.
benefit
▪ The purchaser may therefore obtain the benefit of, effectively, owning the company before he pays for it.
▪ They need to obtain positive economic benefits or cash flow early in the project life.
▪ She admitted four charges of making a false representation to obtain benefit and asked for 18 others to be taken into consideration.
▪ In return the Democrats obtained improved benefits for those who remained on welfare.
▪ But that does not take into account the effort required to obtain that benefit.
▪ The onus, however, is on the student to obtain full benefit from the programme initiated by the ward staff.
▪ A useful goal is to obtain maximum benefit out of each lecture or meeting.
consent
▪ Frequently on smaller contracts, builders do not formally obtain consent and assume that it would be granted.
▪ A minor seeking an abortion was required to obtain parental consent.
▪ The DoE was able to confirm that most of the advertisers involved had not obtained their consent.
▪ A company's name must not include a trade mark unless its owner's consent is obtained.
▪ Prior to the making of such alterations the tenants should obtain the consent of the landlord to the proposed alterations.
▪ Before the study we obtained informed consent from all subjects.
copy
▪ To obtain copies of the above guides, write, enclosing payment, to.
▪ The Union-Tribune recently obtained a copy of the survey.
▪ To obtain your copy write, enclosing payment, to or telephone.
▪ The Los Angeles Times obtained a copy of the 262-page document and its 12-page executive summary.
▪ Phillips have also put together a Man's Guide to Skin Care - you can obtain a free copy by writing to.
▪ Only days before the election, a reporter obtained a copy of secret testimony Gilbert had given to a Senate crime committee.
▪ Then it becomes public property and you can, for a small fee, obtain a copy from Somerset House in London.
▪ To obtain a copy, write to or phone during working hours, Monday to Friday.
data
▪ It was recognised that several sources might have to be approached in order to obtain comprehensive data on this subject. 4.
▪ The purpose of the audit is to identify a problem and to obtain objective data for analysis.
▪ Second, we must obtain the data that is required to test that model.
▪ Inevitably and for ever, we are barred from obtaining the needed data for non-literate tribes which have disappeared.
▪ The research will obtain case-study data using observation and interviews.
▪ In the classroom, when you obtain new data from a language helper, always listen several times before mimicking.
▪ The aims of the programme were to obtain data and evidence for the technical and practical aspects of feasibility.
▪ The difficulty was always to obtain sufficiently high-quality data within a defined area.
deception
▪ He obtained the excess by deception.
▪ Randhawa admitted obtaining by deception, burglary, handling stolen goods and making a threat to kill Miss Nazir.
▪ Even the Church will today readily admit this, while remaining loath to relinquish many of the benefits obtained by the deception.
▪ Middlesbrough solicitor Bernard Ridsdale-Tombling is charged with 16 offences of falsifying records and obtaining by deception.
▪ Take for example a man who obtains land by deception.
▪ Therefore, he paid by deception, and the accused did obtain by deception.
▪ Nine people have been charged with conspiring to obtain mortgage advances by deception from various building societies.
▪ Philip Coles, 37, of Clackmannanshire, had pled guilty last month to conspiracy to obtain money by deception.
degree
▪ In short she obtained a remarkable degree of autonomy.
▪ Meanwhile, he obtained a medical degree, but has been performing music exclusively since 1978.
▪ He qualified as an electronics engineer before going to teachers' training college after which he obtained a degree in art history.
▪ Out of that initial group, five women have gone on to obtain college degrees, McKenzie said.
▪ After obtaining her degree, she decided against teaching, opting instead for a career as a freelance translator.
▪ Anxiety about obtaining a college degree, which has now become a formality as well as a necessity.
▪ However just less than 53% achieved either a moderate or good degree and the proportion obtaining a poor degree was 13%.
▪ Students are required to show competency in these skills in order to obtain a degree.
detail
▪ They also caused a serious credit card scare by obtaining users' card details.
▪ In fact, most of the descriptions are quite explicit, and a good understanding can be obtained by following the details.
▪ No further information needs entering as anybody using the register can obtain details from the lawyer concerned.
▪ His work as a sales representative for Cornhill Life Insurance enabled him to obtain personal details on members of the police.
▪ Perhaps even more fundamentally, it's far from obvious how to obtain the details of a certificate.
▪ However, we were able to obtain details of all Crown Court cases from the Probation Service.
▪ However it has not proved possible to obtain further details of this study.
▪ Griffiths admitted to police that the goods had been obtained by supplying false details to various mail order companies.
difficulty
▪ There was always a difficulty in obtaining enough currency, a major barrier to trading with the west.
▪ The report blamed the difficulty in obtaining proof for the many offenders who have gone free.
▪ Perhaps difficulty in obtaining natron through the traditionally established routes triggered the use of halophytic plants instead.
▪ There was no difficulty obtaining volunteers for this project.
▪ The young Communist shop steward had no difficulty in obtaining the first two warning notes.
▪ He had no difficulty obtaining these.
▪ The sheer cost of trained staff and the difficulties with obtaining spare parts are two indications of the absurdity of the idea.
▪ The patients had difficulties in obtaining specially built shoes.
document
▪ Why didn't the kidnappers try to obtain the document earlier?
▪ If instructed on behalf of a seller, the first task is always to obtain the deeds and documents of title.
evidence
▪ One source of delay is obtaining medical evidence.
▪ There is no need to abolish the privilege entirely in order to obtain occasional evidence of criminality.
▪ Pamela Chrimes told me that it took some time to obtain the evidence of adultery which was then necessary.
▪ The group obtains film and photographic evidence of problem areas that is then used to press for changes in legislation.
▪ Officials usually knew who they were, though they could not obtain the evidence needed to convict them in the courts.
▪ Some succumb to the pressure and claim they have obtained evidence where in fact there is little or none.
▪ The aims of the programme were to obtain data and evidence for the technical and practical aspects of feasibility.
▪ It is quite clear that this thread of non-incrimination is at variance with the recent emphasis on obtaining confession evidence.
form
▪ Higher-order scattered waves can be obtained in a similar form.
▪ To obtain listing forms, call 1-800-273-7322.
▪ Existing tickets are valid for the new dates although refunds can be obtained if required form point of purchase.
▪ A short-term loan also may be obtained in the form of a line of credit.
▪ Model helicopters can be obtained in two forms - those with variable pitch rotor blades and those with fixed pitch blades.
▪ Attribute data is most often obtained in computer-readable form direct from agencies whose function it is to collect and distribute such data.
▪ For more information or to obtain a booking form contact: Guided walk in Yorkshire July 28.
▪ The information he enters will be obtained directly from this form.
information
▪ Shortlisted parties will also be given access to the vendors' various professional advisers to obtain information and to discuss specific areas.
▪ The participating States should have the possibility to obtain such information.
▪ The second part of step two is often neglected by teachers, mainly because it is difficult to obtain accurate information.
▪ To accomplish this, they obtain information from employers as well as jobseekers.
▪ However, there would be times when we would need to obtain salary information - for example, during pay reviews.
Information on childhood history, family, peer and work experiences was obtained, as well as detailed information on current circumstances.
▪ Any reply which costs more than £450 to prepare or obtain information for, will be rejected.
▪ It also seems that psychiatrists are sometimes unaware of the difficulties that general practitioners may face in obtaining the information required.
injunction
▪ They obtained a preliminary injunction against the company and court-ordered restitution.
▪ They obtained an interim injunction directed against the union, which then agreed to comply.
▪ Two days later, Cyber Promotions obtained an injunction from a federal judge that allowed the mailings to continue.
▪ Read in studio Two councils have obtained high court injunctions in an attempt to stop an illegal rave party going ahead.
▪ Lungren also obtained an injunction in August that closed the club indefinitely.
order
▪ The next step is for the lessor to make a court application to obtain an order for possession.
▪ Hicks obtained a court order waiving the juvenile confidentiality of his case, enabling officials to discuss his arrest and trial.
▪ With care, about 12 harmonics may be obtained so that about an order of magnitude of frequency range is available.
▪ Her parents obtained their second court order.
▪ The National Citizens' Coalition has obtained a court order suspending the limits imposed on private citizens represented by the coalition.
▪ In order to remove a child against your wishes, they must establish certain legal grounds and obtain a Court Order.
▪ Twelve companies took part, several of which obtained firm orders, while other business is in the pipeline.
▪ There are also powers to compel the attendance of witnesses by obtaining a witness order.
patient
▪ Results Results were obtained for 318 study patients.
▪ Blood samples analyzed for ethanol were obtained if the patient returned to the clinic for his bi-monthly interview.
▪ Informed consent was obtained from all patients.
▪ Increased emphasis is being placed on obtaining the views of patients themselves.
▪ The study was approved by the ethics committee of our university and informed consent was obtained from all patients and healthy volunteers.
▪ After fully informed consent was obtained eligible patients were registered by phone at the central statistical office at the University of Vienna.
▪ Complete remission was obtained in six patients including four treated with cyclophosphamide, with a follow up ranging from 1.5-7 years.
permission
▪ Immediately after Christmas he obtained permission to return to Aquitaine and we next hear of him once again at war with Geoffrey.
▪ The editor then began a long and frustrating effort to obtain permission.
▪ Since only one card was available it was agreed that others could obtain goods with written permission from the holder. 3.
▪ One local priest has endured arrest and gone to court to obtain permission to conduct his sacrifices in public.
▪ We had gone to the Council Offices to obtain permission for him to take it with him.
▪ The women could obtain permission from the agent to purchase the knives they needed for housework and tanning.
▪ It had taken a full day for Merymose to obtain permission for Huy to visit the embalmer.
▪ I was fortunate enough to obtain permission to go, but I had waited until arriving at Rizé before applying for it.
price
▪ This means a punter can follow the price movements himself, or obtain up to date prices from his stockbroker.
▪ In order to obtain better prices for their cotton, black businessmen sent it directly to Galveston, thus avoiding local middlemen.
▪ Therefore, the accused did not obtain the price of the deception.
▪ On the positive side, this approach has helped farmers in some developing countries to obtain better prices for their products.
▪ However, they normally obtained the most competitive prices through cooperatives and the volume of business through them was very large.
▪ In any auction, the more who bid, the greater the likelihood of obtaining the best possible price.
▪ Competitive tender Always obtain three prices before short-listing a potential supplier and do not forget to squeeze them for discounts.
▪ The recipient might become worried if successive letters then come threatening that action will be taken to obtain the price from him.
result
▪ Of course, more work is required to obtain smoother results, and this is an important consideration when doing calculations by hand.
▪ Business units will then have wide discretion concerning how they structure themselves and operate to obtain the desired results.
▪ Reliability refers to the ability to obtain the same results with repeated measures.
▪ For technical reasons it was not always possible to obtain good results for the three probes on tissue from the same patient.
▪ It is necessary to follow the routines exactly to obtain the best results.
▪ Order and tell are like get but simply evoke more specific means of obtaining a result.
▪ A Scandinavian study uses a randomisation scheme which will probably prevent the group from obtaining a scientifically valuable result.
sample
▪ He obtained a sample of the mould from Fleming, and discovered that it had been incorrectly identified.
▪ My chairman knows more than anyone how difficult it is to obtain good quality samples of natural conversational data.
▪ The tree-ring dates are obtained from samples of extremely long-lived trees, such as the bristlecone pine.
▪ It usually investigates working-class subjects by testing them against norms obtained from middle-class samples.
▪ In order to obtain a visible sample of teachers, the heads of all nine were therefore approached.
▪ He obtained the usual samples of horseshoes, some novel instruments, and books on subjects relevant to the veterinary art.
▪ The target was to obtain a sample of thirty cases, of whatever case category, in each team area.
service
▪ Ensuring informed patient consent to release of information to third parties is obtained is important for service research.
▪ Few professions were open to women, and men had few alternatives to obtaining the services of a wife.
▪ Details can be obtained from the Civil Service Commission.
▪ Surely obtaining a loan is obtaining a service.
▪ This may be a piece of work offering straight forward short-term helping around obtaining a service.
▪ How best to obtain information about health services is the subject of much debate within and between disciplines engaged in such research.
▪ The accused may be guilty even though he does not in ordinary language obtain a service.
signature
▪ When obtaining signatures to the nomination paper the candidate must obtain the signatures of the proposer and seconder first. 4.
▪ She obtained hundreds of signatures and forwarded the petition to then-President Lyndon Johnson, who interceded to have him released.
▪ The Buyer shall upon obtaining such signature send a copy of the signed undertaking to the Seller.
▪ They sent Brammall a form of guarantee in order for him to obtain his wife's signature.
▪ He obtained her signature but did not explain the document to her and she signed it without understanding it.
solution
▪ The knowledge obtained from solutions that are put into the eye for other purposes is considerably valuable.
▪ Whatever happens, either we obtain an efficient solution or we can deduce that there are no efficient solutions.
▪ We have thus obtained our solution, in this case, in one step.
▪ He agreed to go to Rome himself to try to obtain an acceptable solution.
▪ The scheme yields only a theoretical solution, from which the number of patterns can be obtained.
▪ Their curvatures can only be obtained rigorously from the solution of Einstein's equation.
▪ However, they may be combined with some other method to obtain such solutions.
▪ Consequently there have been fewer serious efforts towards obtaining effective solutions.
value
▪ Expert opinion of independent official valuers must be obtained for ascertaining the value of the asset in question.
▪ Better still, they obtained the value promised.
▪ The general picture obtained for decimal place value is not a very happy one.
▪ These ratios were then applied to business-unit book values to obtain notional market values.
▪ Membership enables you to benefit from the Thomas Cook expertise in obtaining the best value for money deals.
▪ Triggering of the various traps in the program occurred with surprising frequency and it was difficult to obtain an exposure value.
▪ The first does attempt to obtain a value, the second remains essentially a cost and not a value.
■ VERB
require
▪ Of course, more work is required to obtain smoother results, and this is an important consideration when doing calculations by hand.
▪ Lawsuits were filed seeking to require districts to obtain parental permission before students are tested.
▪ A minor seeking an abortion was required to obtain parental consent.
▪ Officials were required to obtain such a statement under a federal program for crime victims.
▪ A solicitor is required to obtain authority to use the green form scheme in such proceedings.
▪ Consequently, the air waybill did not require presentation to obtain possession of the goods.
▪ Those registered users of Word for Windows requiring the upgrade can obtain it from Microsoft for a nominal fee of £7.75inc.VAT.
▪ Typically organisations require employees to obtain two or three estimates and base their payment on the lowest one.
use
▪ It can be used to obtain responses from pupils beyond what they would otherwise achieve.
▪ They can be used to obtain information on network topology, policy, and interconnection information in order to construct routing tables.
▪ No further information needs entering as anybody using the register can obtain details from the lawyer concerned.
▪ It will be used by members to obtain referrals to specialists.
▪ No fraud was used to obtain the entry on the charges register of the building society's legal charge.
▪ If the bill became law, manufacturers using chemicals obtained from local species would have to pay a royalty to the state.
▪ It can also specify the password to be used to obtain to the module.
▪ Anyone wishing to use the video - obtain this leaflet or have more information please contact 12.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
▪ Maps and guides can be obtained at the tourist office.
▪ Scientists in Brazil are obtaining medicines from plants.
▪ Visitors must obtain a wilderness hiking permit to enter the park.
▪ Weisner is hoping to obtain funding for a follow-up study of the children.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ Beyond that, McCord said she hopes to get a job and find a legitimate way to obtain a college education.
▪ Having already obtained an MoD licence and farmer's permission we set about trying to pinpoint the site.
▪ His promotional leaflets referred to his routine practice of obtaining x ray films, running diagnostic tests, and prescribing treatment.
▪ Soon afterwards, the Tokugawa clan obtained supremacy under the patient and skilful Hideyori or Iyeyasu.
▪ Such oblique photography is a selective process, involving archaeological judgment, in contrast to the unselective view obtained by vertical survey.
▪ The purpose of the audit is to identify a problem and to obtain objective data for analysis.
▪ The responsibility for obtaining such information rests with the business units themselves and/or a central research and development department.
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Obtain

Obtain \Ob*tain"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Obtained; p. pr. & vb. n. Obtaining.] [F. obtenir, L. obtinere; ob (see Ob-) + tenere to hold. See Tenable.]

  1. To hold; to keep; to possess. [Obs.]

    His mother, then, is mortal, but his Sire He who obtains the monarchy of heaven.
    --Milton.

  2. To get hold of by effort; to gain possession of; to procure; to acquire, in any way.

    Some pray for riches; riches they obtain.
    --Dryden.

    By guileful fair words peace may be obtained.
    --Shak.

    It may be that I may obtain children by her.
    --Gen. xvi. 2.

    Syn: To attain; gain; procure; acquire; win; earn.

    Usage: See Attain. -- To Obtain, Get, Gain, Earn, Acquire. The idea of getting is common to all these terms. We may, indeed, with only a slight change of sense, substitute get for either of them; as, to get or to gain a prize; to get or to obtain an employment; to get or to earn a living; to get or to acquire a language. To gain is to get by striving; and as this is often a part of our good fortune, the word gain is peculiarly applicable to whatever comes to us fortuitously. Thus, we gain a victory, we gain a cause, we gain an advantage, etc. To earn is to deserve by labor or service; as, to earn good wages; to earn a triumph. Unfortunately, one does not always get or obtain what he has earned. To obtain implies desire for possession, and some effort directed to the attainment of that which is not immediately within our reach. Whatever we thus seek and get, we obtain, whether by our own exertions or those of others; whether by good or bad means; whether permanently, or only for a time. Thus, a man obtains an employment; he obtains an answer to a letter, etc. To acquire is more limited and specific. We acquire what comes to us gradually in the regular exercise of our abilities, while we obtain what comes in any way, provided we desire it. Thus, we acquire knowledge, property, honor, reputation, etc. What we acquire becomes, to a great extent, permanently our own; as, to acquire a language; to acquire habits of industry, etc.

Obtain

Obtain \Ob*tain"\, v. i.

  1. To gain or have a firm footing; to be recognized or established; to become prevalent or general; to prevail; as, the custom obtains of going to the seashore in summer.

    Sobriety hath by use obtained to signify temperance in drinking.
    --Jer. Taylor.

    The Theodosian code, several hundred years after Justinian's time, did obtain in the western parts of Europe.
    --Baker.

  2. To prevail; to succeed. [archaic and Rare]
    --Evelyn.

    So run that ye may obtain.
    --1 Cor. ix. 24.

    There is due from the judge to the advocate, some commendation, where causes are fair pleaded; especially towards the side which obtaineth not.
    --Bacon.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
obtain

early 15c., from Middle French obtenir "acquire, obtain" (14c.), from Latin obtinere "hold, hold fast, take hold of, get possession of, acquire," from ob "to" (though perhaps intensive in this case; see ob-) + tenere "to hold" (see tenet). Related: Obtained; obtaining.

Wiktionary
obtain

vb. (context transitive English) To get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way. (from 15th c.)

WordNet
obtain
  1. v. come into possession of; "How did you obtain the visa?"

  2. receive a specified treatment (abstract); "These aspects of civilization do not find expression or receive an interpretation"; "His movie received a good review"; "I got nothing but trouble for my good intentions" [syn: receive, get, find, incur]

  3. be valid, applicable, or true; "This theory still holds" [syn: prevail, hold]

Usage examples of "obtain".

We have received information, from what appears to be a very reliable source, that you have obtained the Aboriginal scholarship under false pretences.

Federal authorities obtained a murder warrant yesterday against fugitive Glenn Alien Abies in the shooting death of Deputy U.

Constitution, which, it is submitted, was merely the power to amend the delegated grants, and these were obtained by the separate and independent action of each State acceding to the Union.

Much useful comparative information was obtained during the following minute of suspended ecstasy, during which the female tongues parted into thousands of fine tentacles, exploring every accessible cavity of the male bodies.

On the accession of Claudius, an old woman threw herself at his feet, and complained that a general of the late emperor had obtained an arbitrary grant of her patrimony.

By mixing with milk of lime, the acidity is neutralised, zinc oxide and calcium sulphite are thrown down, and a solution of neutral sodium hydrosulphite is obtained which is more stable and can be kept longer without decomposition.

There was also an attempt to obtain aconitine, which was not successful.

With the acquisition of a superfluous waste of fertile soil, the conquerors obtained the command of a naval force, sufficient to transport their armies to the coast of Asia.

I noticed that the boy I had spoken to, the one addressed by Mr Quigg as Mealy-Plant, was, like me, making no attempt to obtain any of the potatoes although he was one of the comparatively larger boys.

Tickets for the Knights to attend the final, formal, farewell banquet of the American Tonsil, Adenoid and Vas Deferens Society had been obtained for them, and Horsey wanted to make sure their appearance would bring prestige to the occasion.

Inasmuch as it is within the power of a State to provide that one who has undertaken administration of an estate shall remain subject to the order of its courts until said administration is closed, it follows that there can be no question as to the validity of a judgment for unadministered assets obtained on service of publication plus service personally upon an executor in the State in which he had taken refuge and in which he had been adjudged incompetent.

Their concurrence, if obtained, will give assurance of their severally adopting emancipation at no very distant day upon the new constitutional terms.

I could kiss neither of them, since one passed for my niece, and my sense of humanity would not allow me to treat Marcoline as my mistress in the presence of an unfortunate brother who adored her, and had never obtained the least favour from her.

But they had learnt that such a King was born that by adoring Him they might be sure of obtaining from Him the salvation which is of God.

God knows, I would prefer sacrificing the whole, so that it would obtain me a happy and affectionate home.