Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Acquire \Ac*quire"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Acquired}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Acquiring}.] [L. acquirere, acquisitum; ad + quarere
   to seek for. In OE. was a verb aqueren, fr. the same, through
   OF. aquerre. See {Quest}..]
   To gain, usually by one's own exertions; to get as one's own;
   as, to acquire a title, riches, knowledge, skill, good or bad
   habits.

         No virtue is acquired in an instant, but step by step.
                                                  --Barrow.

         Descent is the title whereby a man, on the death of his
         ancestor, acquires his estate, by right of
         representation, as his heir at law.      --Blackstone.

   Syn: To obtain; gain; attain; procure; win; earn; secure. See
        {Obtain}.

Source : WordNet®

acquire
     v 1: come into the possession of something concrete or abstract;
          "She got a lot of paintings from her uncle"; "They
          acquired a new pet"; "Get your results the next day";
          "Get permission to take a few days off from work" [syn:
          {get}]
     2: take on a certain form, attribute, or aspect; "His voice
        took on a sad tone"; "The story took a new turn"; "he
        adopted an air of superiority"; "She assumed strange
        manners"; "The gods assume human or animal form in these
        fables" [syn: {assume}, {adopt}, {take on}, {take}]
     3: come to have or undergo a change of (physical features and
        attributes); "He grew a beard"; "The patient developed
        abdominal pains"; "I got funny spots all over my body";
        "Well-developed breasts" [syn: {grow}, {develop}, {produce},
         {get}]
     4: locate (a moving entity) by means of a tracking system such
        as radar
     5: win something through one's efforts; "I acquired a passing
        knowledge of Chinese"; "Gain an understanding of
        international finance" [syn: {win}, {gain}] [ant: {lose}]
     6: acquire or gain knowledge or skills; "She learned dancing
        from her sister"; "I learned Sanskrit"; "Children acquire
        language at an amazing rate" [syn: {learn}, {larn}]
     7: gain through experience; "I acquired a strong aversion to
        television"; "Children must develop a sense of right and
        wrong"; "Dave developed leadership qualities in his new
        position"; "develop a passion for painting" [syn: {develop},
         {evolve}]