ransom

1. N-VAR A ransom is the money that has to be paid to someone so that they will set free a person they have kidnapped. 贖金

Her kidnapper successfully extorted a $250,000 ransom for her release. 綁架者們成功地勒索了25萬美元的贖金才釋放她。

2. V-T If you ransom someone who has been kidnapped, you pay the money to set them free. 贖出

The same system was used for ransoming or exchanging captives. 同一系統也被用來贖廻或交換俘虜。

3. PHRASE If a kidnapper is holding a person for ransom, they keep that person prisoner until they are given what they want. 劫持某人以勒取贖金

He is charged with kidnapping a businessman last year and holding him for ransom. 他被指控去年綁架了一名商人竝挾持他以勒索贖金。