What's the difference between acquire and possess?

Acquire


Definition:

  • (v. t.) 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.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) These surveys show that campers exposed to mountain stream water are at risk of acquiring giardiasis.
  • (2) Acquired drug resistance to INH, RMP, and EMB can be demonstrated in M. kansasii, and SMX in combination with other agents chosen on the basis of MIC determinations are effective in the treatment of disease caused by RMP-resistant M. kansasii.
  • (3) As the requirements to store and display these images increase, the following questions become important: (a) What methods can be used to ensure that information given to the physician represents the originally acquired data?
  • (4) None of the children in the study showed clinical symptoms of acquired subglottic stenosis before discharge from hospital, and none has been readmitted for this condition subsequently.
  • (5) United believe it is more likely the right-back can be bought in the summer but are exploring what would represent the considerable coup of acquiring the 26-year-old immediately.
  • (6) In agreement with the data in the literature, melanocytes incubated with IFN-gamma acquire HLA-DR, -DQ, and -DP antigens.
  • (7) The functional capacity to present antigens to T cells was lacking in normal resting B cells, but was acquired following LK treatment.
  • (8) In the DAUDI cell system, the acquired capability of tumor cell variants to grow in the presence of a relatively high concentration of vinblastine (VBL) is associated with a marked increase to NK and LAK susceptibility.
  • (9) As a result, trnK is under the control of the psbA promoter in this species and has therefore acquired psbA-like expression characteristics.
  • (10) Clinicians should be aware of this new and unusual association of a cerebral glioma and acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
  • (11) The problem-based system provides a unique integration of acquiring theoretical knowledge in the basic sciences through clinical problem solving which was highly rated in all analysed phases.
  • (12) However, this inhibition was not found in rats treated with castor oil for 3 d. Moreover, 5-HT concentration in the midbrain significantly decreased in rats that acquired the adaptability for the occurrence of diarrhea.
  • (13) Neuromuscular disorders in small animals include a diverse group of congenital and acquired diseases.
  • (14) H. influenzae also may acquire heme from hemopexin and albumin, which have not been previously investigated.
  • (15) Recently, the use of pentamidine has risen because of its efficacy in managing patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and Pneumocystis carinii infection.
  • (16) The development of optical fibers capable of transmitting laser energy has encouraged the experimental use of laser irradiation for the treatment of acquired cardiovascular disorders.
  • (17) In a recent study, Orr and Lanzetta (1984) showed that the excitatory properties of fear facial expressions previously described (Lanzetta & Orr, 1981; Orr & Lanzetta, 1980) do not depend on associative mechanisms; even in the absence of reinforcement, fear faces intensify the emotional reaction to a previously conditioned stimulus and disrupt extinction of an acquired fear response.
  • (18) Both Shigella and Salmonella transferred multi-drug resistance to some enterobacteria--E. coli and Proteus as well as to Salmonella typhimurium when the latter was also present in the intestinal tract; of these some 10--40 per cent acquire the multi-drug resistance of Salmonella heidelberg and Shigella sonnei.
  • (19) This proved that all four fistulas were acquired and that they were probably caused by the catgut ligatures used for ampullary ligation.
  • (20) During the transformation of mammalian cells by SV40, the cells acquire new antigenicity at the cell surface that acts as a target for cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

Possess


Definition:

  • (v. t.) To occupy in person; to hold or actually have in one's own keeping; to have and to hold.
  • (v. t.) To have the legal title to; to have a just right to; to be master of; to own; to have; as, to possess property, an estate, a book.
  • (v. t.) To obtain occupation or possession of; to accomplish; to gain; to seize.
  • (v. t.) To enter into and influence; to control the will of; to fill; to affect; -- said especially of evil spirits, passions, etc.
  • (v. t.) To put in possession; to make the owner or holder of property, power, knowledge, etc.; to acquaint; to inform; -- followed by of or with before the thing possessed, and now commonly used reflexively.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) These results indicate that astrocytes possess bradykinin receptors and that these are predominantly of the B2 subtype.
  • (2) Escherichia enterotoxigenic strains, Yersinia enterocolitica and Salmonella typhimurium virulent strains, Campylobacter jejuni clinical isolates possess more pronounced capacity for adhesion to enteric cells of Peyer's plaques than to other types of epithelial cells, which may be of importance in the pathogenesis of these infections.
  • (3) Cop rats, however, possess a single 'suppressor' gene which confers complete resistance to mammary cancer.
  • (4) I would immediately look askance at anyone who lacks the last and possesses the first.
  • (5) The blockade of H2 receptors is the primary action of these drugs; however, they possess also secondary actions which may represent untoward effects but in some cases may be actually useful (increase in prostaglandin synthesis, inhibition of LTB4 synthesis, etc.)
  • (6) The E. coli used did not possess collagenolytic activity nor did a variety of common aerobic clinical isolates.
  • (7) These results indicate that both the renal brush-border and basolateral membranes possess the Na(+)-dependent dicarboxylate transport system with very similar properties but with different substrate affinity and transport capacity.
  • (8) This suggests that the latter group does not possess the genetic equipment (Ir genes) to recognize the antigenic determinants and to synthesize the corresponding antibodies.
  • (9) 2-(4'-Isobutylphenyl)propionic acid, ibuprofen, is an antiinflammatory agent which possesses moderate platelet aggregation inhibitory activity.
  • (10) Thallium-201, a radiopharmaceutical that possesses many of the characteristics of potassium analogues, at present is receiving the greatest attention as a regional blood flow indicator.
  • (11) In contrast, strains carrying the substitutions Ile-30----Phe, Gly-33----Leu, Gly-58----Leu, and Lys-34----Val and the Lys-34----Val, Glu-37----Gln double substitution were found to possess a coupled phenotype similar to that of the wild type.
  • (12) These findings indicate an association between HLA-B7 and ankylosing spondylitis in American blacks and suggest that these patients who lack B27 but possess B7 represent a subgroup of patients with this disease.
  • (13) As Heseltine himself argued, after the success of last summer's Olympics, "our aim must be to become a nation of cities possessed of London's confidence and elan" .
  • (14) Rhesus monkey BAT mitochondria (BATM) possess an uncoupling protein that is characteristic of BAT as evidenced by the binding of [3H]GDP, the inhibition by GDP of the high Cl- permeability or rapid alpha-glycerol-3-phosphate oxidation.
  • (15) These preliminary experiments suggest that oSm is similar to IGF-I in its binding characteristics and that primary cultures of skeletal muscle satellite cells possess type I and type II IGF receptors.
  • (16) Acetylcholinesterase is a key enzyme in cholinergic neurotransmission for hydrolyzing acetylcholine and has been shown to possess arylacylamidase activity in addition to esterase activity.
  • (17) Moloney murine sarcoma virus ts110 possesses a thermosensitive splicing defect.
  • (18) Two group G streptococcal cultures (G 10187, G 11122) with surface antigen T4 possess surface receptors for human haptoglobin (Hp).
  • (19) The fact that the security service was in possession of and retained the copy tape until the early summer of 1985 and did not bring it to the attention of Mr Stalker is wholly reprehensible,” he wrote.
  • (20) A series of hierarchical multiple regressions revealed the effects of Surgency, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Emotional Stability, and Intellect on evoking upset in spouses through condescension (e.g., treating spouse as stupid or inferior), possessiveness (demanding too much time and attention), abuse (slapping spouse), unfaithfulness (having sex with others), inconsiderateness (leaving toilet seat up), moodiness (crying a lot), alcohol abuse (drinking too much alcohol), emotional constriction (hiding emotions to act tough), and self-centeredness (acting selfishly).