/ˈrænsəm ||; ˈrænsəm/noun [C,U] the money that you must pay to free sb who has been captured illegally and who is being kept as a prisoner 赎金: The kidnappers demanded a ransom of $500000 for the boy's release. 绑匪要求500000元赎金才肯释放男孩。 hold sb to ransom to keep sb as a prisoner and say that you will not free him/her until you have received a certain amount of money 绑架某人以勒索赎金；绑票 ☞ Look at hostage. 参看hostage。