lease

¹

[ lees ]

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.

verb (used with object)

, leased, leas·ing.

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, leas·ing.

1. to grant a lease; let or rent:

   to lease at a lower rental.

lease

²

[ lees ]

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.

lease

¹

/ 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

verb

1. to grant possession of (land, buildings, etc) by lease
2. to take a lease of (property); hold under a lease

lease

²

/ liːz /

noun

1. dialect.
   open pasture or common

lease

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

Derived Forms

• ˈleasable, adjective
• ˈleaser, noun

Other Words From

• leasa·ble adjective
• leaseless adjective
• leaser noun
• un·leasa·ble adjective
• un·leased adjective
• well-leased adjective

Word History and Origins

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 lease²

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of lease¹

C15: via Anglo-French from Old French lais (n), from laissier to let go, from Latin laxāre to loosen

Origin of lease²

Old English lǣs; perhaps related to Old Norse lāth property

Idioms and Phrases

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.

More idioms and phrases containing lease

see new lease on life .

Example Sentences

Anyone who is taking space or looking at a lease expiration is looking at a major redesign.

From Fortune

Under these conditions, it would make more sense for companies that are active on Alaska’s North Slope to pursue sites they currently have under lease, which pose much lower risk.

From Popular-Science

The city’s lease for Civic Center Plaza had gone month-to-month.

From Voice of San Diego

Chapter 11 allows retailers to easily get out of lease agreements.

From Ozy

The city of San Diego has long struggled with leases for buildings to house its workers.

From Voice of San Diego

Increasingly, criminals actually lease their malware from a group that guarantees their malware against detection.

From The Daily Beast

Ironically, as pope, his championing of the poor has given Liberation Theology a new lease on life.

From The Daily Beast

So Wilson had to innovate a new business plan—a $950 monthly lease, with 2,000 free copies.

From The Daily Beast

The schools buy or lease nearly everything from companies owned by Mitchell.

From The Daily Beast

He has underpinned his future program by winning from NASA a 20-year lease on the legendary launch pad 39A at Cape Canaveral.

From The Daily Beast

He wishes to cultivate it still, and offers to renew the lease for any number of years, and pay the rent punctually.

From Project Gutenberg

The rent for which the owner can lease it, emerges simply as a consequence of the existing state of wages and prices.

From Project Gutenberg

He and his friends obtained the lease, for thirty-one years, of a rival line, which turned out a great financial success.

From Project Gutenberg

If the time be less, a verbal lease may be made, even though the lessee does not take immediate possession of the premises.

From Project Gutenberg

A lease to a specified day continues during the whole of it, though custom or statute may prescribe a different rule.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• charter
• hire
• rent out
• sublet