lease

1
[ lees ]
/ lis /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR lease ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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.
the property leased.
the period of time for which a lease is made: a five-year lease.

verb (used with object), leased, leas·ing.

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.
to take or hold by lease: He leased the farm from the sheriff.

verb (used without object), leased, leas·ing.

to grant a lease; let or rent: to lease at a lower rental.

Idioms for lease

    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.

Origin of lease

1
1350–1400; Middle English les < Anglo-French (equivalent to Old French lais, French legs legacy), noun derivative of lesser to lease, literally, let go (equivalent to Old French laissier) < Latin laxāre to release, let go. See lax

OTHER WORDS FROM lease

Words nearby lease

learning resources center, learning support assistant, learning-disabled, learnt, leary, lease, lease rod, lease-purchase, leaseback, leasehold, leaseholder

Definition for lease (2 of 2)

lease 2
[ lees ]
/ lis /

noun Textiles.

a system for keeping the warp in position and under control by alternately crossing the warp yarn over and under the lease rods.
the order of drawing in the warp ends.

Origin of lease

2
1350–1400; Middle English lese length or coil of thread, variant of lesh leash

Words related to lease

charter, hire, sublet, loan, let, sublease

Example sentences from the Web for lease

British Dictionary definitions for lease (1 of 2)

lease 1
/ (liːs) /

noun

a contract by which property is conveyed to a person for a specified period, usually for rent
the instrument by which such property is conveyed
the period of time for which it is conveyed
a prospect of renewed health, happiness, etc a new lease of life

verb (tr)

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

Derived forms of lease

leasable, adjective leaser, noun

Word Origin for lease

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

British Dictionary definitions for lease (2 of 2)

lease 2
/ (liːz) /

noun

dialect open pasture or common

Word Origin for lease

Old English lǣs; perhaps related to Old Norse lāth property

Cultural definitions for lease

lease

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

Idioms and Phrases with lease

lease

see new lease on life.