lend

[ lend ]
See synonyms for: lendlendinglentlender on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),lent, lend·ing.
  1. to grant the use of (something) on condition that it or its equivalent will be returned.

  2. to give (money) on condition that it is returned and often that interest is paid for its temporary use.

  1. to give or contribute obligingly or helpfully: to lend one's aid to a cause.

  2. to adapt (oneself or itself) to something: The building should lend itself to inexpensive remodeling.

  3. to furnish or impart: Distance lends enchantment to the view.

verb (used without object),lent, lend·ing.
  1. to make a loan.

Idioms about lend

  1. lend a hand, to give help; aid: If everyone lends a hand, we can have dinner ready in half an hour.

Origin of lend

1
First recorded before 900; from Middle English lenden, variant (originally past tense) of lenen, Old English lǣnan (cognate with Dutch lenen, German lehnen, Old Norse lāna ), derivative of lǣn loan; cognate with German Lehnen, Old Norse lān; see loan1

Other words from lend

  • lender, noun
  • in·ter·lend, verb, in·ter·lent, in·ter·lend·ing.
  • o·ver·lend, verb, o·ver·lent, o·ver·lend·ing.
  • re·lend, verb (used with object), re·lent, re·lend·ing.

Words that may be confused with lend

Words Nearby lend

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use lend in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for lend

lend

/ (lɛnd) /


verblends, lending or lent (lɛnt)
  1. (tr) to permit the use of (something) with the expectation of return of the same or an equivalent

  2. to provide (money) temporarily, often at interest

  1. (intr) to provide loans, esp as a profession

  2. (tr) to impart or contribute (something, esp some abstract quality): her presence lent beauty

  3. (tr) to provide, esp in order to assist or support: he lent his skill to the company

  4. lend an ear to listen

  5. lend itself to possess the right characteristics or qualities for: the novel lends itself to serialization

  6. lend oneself to give support, cooperation, etc

Origin of lend

1
C15 lende (originally the past tense), from Old English lǣnan, from lǣn loan 1; related to Icelandic lāna, Old High German lēhanōn

Derived forms of lend

  • lender, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012