lend

[[t]le̱nd[/t]]

♦♦♦

lends, lending, lent

1) VERB When people or organizations such as banks lend you money, they give it to you and you agree to pay it back at a future date, often with an extra amount as interest.

[V n] The bank is reassessing its criteria for lending money...

[V n n] I had to lend him ten pounds to take his children to the pictures.

...financial de-regulation that led to institutions being more willing to lend. [Also V n to n, V to n]

Derived words:

lending N-UNCOUNT usu with supp

...a financial institution that specializes in the lending of money.

...a slump in bank lending.

2) VERB If you lend something that you own, you allow someone to have it or use it for a period of time.

[V n n] Will you lend me your jacket for a little while?...

[V n to n] He had lent the bungalow to the Conrads for a couple of weeks.

3) VERB If you lend your support to someone or something, you help them with what they are doing or with a problem that they have.

[V n to n] He was approached by the organisers to lend support to a benefit concert...

[V n] Stipe attended yesterday's news conference to lend his support. [Also V n n]

Syn:

give

4) VERB If something lends itself to a particular activity or result, it is easy for it to be used for that activity or to achieve that result.

[V pron-refl to n] The room lends itself well to summer eating with its light, airy atmosphere.

5) VERB If something lends a particular quality to something else, it adds that quality to it.

[V n to n] Enthusiastic applause lent a sense of occasion to the proceedings...

[V n n] A more relaxed regime and regular work lends the inmates a dignity not seen in other prisons. [Also V n]

6) → See also lent

7) to lend an ear → see ear

to lend a hand → see hand

to lend your name to something → see name