interlibrary loan

noun

1. a system by which one library obtains a work for a user by borrowing it from another library.

2. a loan made by this system.

interlibrary loan

/ ˌɪntəˈlaɪbrərɪ /

noun

1. a system by which libraries borrow publications from other libraries

2. 1. an instance of such borrowing

   2. a publication so borrowed

Word History and Origins

Origin of interlibrary loan¹

First recorded in 1925–30; inter- + library