[] () an amount of money that is given as the first part of a larger payment when you buy sth over a period of time or invest in sth 订金；首付款◆saving money for a down payment on a house 为支付购房首付款储钱◆The company has made a €30 million down payment on developing the new drug. 这家公司为开发这一新药支付了 3000 万欧元的首付款。SYNdeposit ➡pay sth down at pay verb