n. The offering of anything to a deity; a consecratory rite.n. That which is sacrificed; specifically, that which is consecrated and offered to a deity as an expression of thanksgiving, consecration, penitence, or reconciliation. See offering.n. The destruction, surrender, or giving up of some prized or desirable thing in behalf of a higher object, or to a claim considered more pressing; the loss incurred by devotion to some other person or interest; also, the thing so devoted or given up.n. Surrender or loss of profit.To make an offering or sacrifice of; present as an expression of thanksgiving, consecration, penitence, or reconciliation.To surrender, give up, or suffer to be lost or destroyed for the sake of something else.To dispose of regardless of gain or advantage.Synonyms Sacrifice, Immolate. By the original meaning, sacrifice might apply to offerings of any sort, but immolate only to sacrifices of life: this distinction still continues, except that, as most sacrifices have been the offering of life, sacrifice has come to mean that presumably. It has taken on several figurative meanings, while immolate has come to seem a strong word, especially appropriate to the offering of a large number of lives or of a valuable life. Immolation is naturally for propitiation, while sacrifice may be for that or only for worship.To offer up a sacrifice; make offerings to a deity, especially by the slaughter and burning of victims, or of some part of them, on an altar.In base-ball, to make a fair hit, so as to advance a base-runner, while giving the opportunity to put out the batter.