What is investment?

In a

transaction,

something

is exchanged for

something else.

 

To this,

we can add

the concept of time.

This splits

the concept of transaction

in two:

In a

barter transaction,
something

(in the present)

is exchanged for

something else

(also in the present). 

In an

investment transaction,
something

(in the present)
is

exchanged

for
something else

(in the future).  

Note that,

by adding

the concept of

time,

we also add

the concept of

risk.

(The present is certain – but the future is uncertain.)