lease

¹ American  

[lees] / lis /

noun

1. a contract renting land, buildings, etc., to another; a contract or instrument conveying property to another for a specified period or for a period determinable at the will of either lessor or lessee in consideration of rent or other compensation.

2. the property leased.

3. the period of time for which a lease is made.

   a five-year lease.

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verb (used with object)

leased, leasing

1. to grant the temporary possession or use of (lands, tenements, etc.) to another, usually for compensation at a fixed rate; let.

   She plans to lease her apartment to a friend.

2. to take or hold by lease.

   He leased the farm from the sheriff.

   Synonyms:

   hire, charter, rent

verb (used without object)

leased, leasing

1. to grant a lease; let or rent.

   to lease at a lower rental.

idioms

1. a new lease on life, a chance to improve one's situation or to live longer or more happily.

   Plastic surgery gave him a new lease on life.

lease ² American  

[lees] / lis /

noun

Textiles.

1. a system for keeping the warp in position and under control by alternately crossing the warp yarn over and under the lease rods.

2. the order of drawing in the warp ends.

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lease ¹ British  

/ liːs /

noun

1. a contract by which property is conveyed to a person for a specified period, usually for rent

2. the instrument by which such property is conveyed

3. the period of time for which it is conveyed

4. a prospect of renewed health, happiness, etc

   a new lease of life

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verb

1. to grant possession of (land, buildings, etc) by lease

2. to take a lease of (property); hold under a lease

lease ² British  

/ liːz /

noun

1. dialect open pasture or common

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lease Cultural  

1. A contract that grants possession of property for a specified period of time in return for some kind of compensation.

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lease More Idioms  

1. see new lease on life.

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Other Word Forms

• leasable adjective
• leaseless adjective
• leaser noun
• unleasable adjective
• unleased adjective
• well-leased adjective

Etymology

Origin of lease¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English les, from Anglo-French les, Old French lais, leis, noun derivative of lesser “to lease,” literally, “let go,” ultimately from Latin laxāre to release; lax

Origin of lease¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English lese “length or coil of thread,” variant of lesh leash

Example Sentences

After seeking legal advice, O'Donnell quickly realised that because she was signed to a lease, the board could do just that.

From BBC

In 2023, Pivotal leased eight aircraft to an innovation arm of the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

Meghan Callahan, from the Empower Fans Coalition, a group that opposes the bill, equates this licensing change to taking a lease out on the ticket.

From Los Angeles Times

If Landbridge is obliged to give up the lease, "then we have an obligation to take measures to protect the Chinese company's interest -- that is our position," ambassador Xiao Qian told Australian media on Wednesday.

From Barron's

Three weeks later, Sanomi's company was part of a consortium that was awarded a new oil mining lease by her, the court heard.

From BBC

Related Words

• charter
• hire
• rent out
• sublet