# investment

Pronunciation: say "in-VEST-muhnt" /ɪnˈvɛstmənt/

## Noun

1. The act of putting money, time, or effort into something in the hope of a profit or other benefit.
   - Simple: Putting money, time, or effort into something because you hope to gain money or another benefit.
   - _His early investment in the startup paid off when it went public._
   - _Years of steady investment in public schools have raised graduation rates across the state._
2. A purchase or expense made in the hope that it will earn money or prove worth what was spent on it.
   - Simple: Something you buy because you hope it will make money or be worth its cost later.
   - _The espresso machine paid for itself within a year, so it turned out to be a smart investment._
   - _Rare coins and vintage watches can be risky investments for anyone who needs cash quickly._

## Noun

3. A garment or robe, especially one worn in religious or ceremonial settings. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: A robe or piece of clothing, especially one worn for a special ceremony.

## Other meanings

- (noun) The surrounding or blockading of a place by an armed force, or the state of being so surrounded.
- (noun) A mixture of silica sand and plaster that, poured around a wax pattern, forms a negative mold for casting metals such as bronze.

## Origin

Formed from the verb "invest" combined with the suffix "-ment".

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/investment (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).