¦ noun
1. the practice or an act of killing an animal or person or surrendering a possession as an offering to a deity.
an animal, person, or object offered in this way.
2. an act of giving up something of value for the sake of something that is of greater value or importance.
3. (also sacrifice bunt or sacrifice fly) Baseball a bunted or fly ball which puts the batter out but allows a base-runner to advance.
¦ verb offer or give up as a sacrifice.
Derivatives
sacrificial adjective
sacrificially adverb
Origin
ME: from OFr., from L. sacrificium; related to sacrificus 'sacrificial', from sacer 'holy'.