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n. 1. a. The act of offering something to a deity in propitiation or homage, especially the ritual slaughter of an animal or a person. b. A victim offered in this way. 2. a. The act of giving up something highly valued for the sake of something else considered to have a greater value or claim: Social activism often involves tremendous sacrifice. b. Something given up in this way. 3. a. Relinquishment of something at less than its presumed value. b. Something so relinquished. c. A loss so sustained. 4. Baseball A sacrifice bunt or sacrifice fly. v. sac·ri·ficed, sac·ri·fic·ing, sac·ri·fic·es v.tr. 1. To offer as a sacrifice to a deity. 2. To give up (one thing) for another thing considered to be of greater value. 3. To sell or give away at a loss. 4. To kill (an animal) for purposes of scientific research or experimentation. v.intr. 1. To offer a sacrifice: The Greek warriors sacrificed to their gods. 2. To make a sacrifice: parents sacrificing for their children. 3. Baseball To make a sacrifice bunt or sacrifice fly. [Middle English, from Old French, from Latin sacrificium : sacer, sacred; see SACRED + facere, to make; see dhē- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] sacri·fic′er n. |
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