auf|kaufen
Translation
to buy up, to acquire
Examples
Er hat alle Tickets aufgekauft.
He bought up all the tickets.
Die große Firma will die kleine aufkaufen.
The big company wants to acquire the small one.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) to buy sth. up The investors bought up all available shares.
((sth.)) to acquire a company An international corporation has acquired the local business.
Similar Words
Synonyms: erwerben (to acquire), übernehmen (to take over); Antonyms: verkaufen (to sell)
Etymology
From the prefix 'auf' (up, completely) + 'kaufen' (to buy). The 'auf' prefix here implies completeness, i.e., buying *up* all of something.
Memory Tips
Imagine buying so much of something that you create a pile that goes 'up' (auf). You're buying it all 'up'.