lease Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun property that is leased or rented out or let
    letting; rental.
  2. noun a contract granting use or occupation of property during a specified time for a specified payment
  3. noun the period of time during which a contract conveying property to a person is in effect
    term of a contract.
  4. verb let for money
    rent.
    • We rented our apartment to friends while we were abroad
  5. verb hold under a lease or rental agreement; of goods and services
    hire; rent; charter.
  6. verb grant use or occupation of under a term of contract
    let; rent.
    • I am leasing my country estate to some foreigners
  7. verb engage for service under a term of contract
    hire; engage; charter; take; rent.
    • We took an apartment on a quiet street
    • Let's rent a car
    • Shall we take a guide in Rome?

WordNet

Lease intransitive verb
Etymology
AS. lesan to gather; akin to D. lezen to gather, read, G. lesen, Goth. lisan to gather; cf. Lith lesti to peck.
Definitions
  1. To gather what harvesters have left behind; to glean. Obs. Dryden.
Lease transitive verb
Etymology
F.laisser, OF. laissier, lessier, to leave, transmit, L. laxare to loose, slacken, from laxus loose, wide. See Lax, and cf. Lesser.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Leased ; present participle & verbal noun Leasing
Definitions
  1. To grant to another by lease the possession of, as of lands, tenements, and hereditaments; to let; to demise; as, a landowner leases a farm to a tenant; -- sometimes with out.
    There were some [houses] that were leased out for three lives. Addison.
  2. To hold under a lease; to take lease of; as, a tenant leases his land from the owner.
Lease noun
Etymology
Cf. OF. lais. See Lease, v. t.
Definitions
  1. A demise or letting of lands, tenements, or hereditaments to another for life, for a term of years, or at will, or for any less interest than that which the lessor has in the property, usually for a specified rent or compensation.
  2. The contract for such letting.
  3. Any tenure by grant or permission; the time for which such a tenure holds good; allotted time.
    Our high-placed Macbeth Shall live the lease of nature. Shak.

Webster 1913