n.1 Brit. an acknowledgement of indebtedness, esp. a bond of a company or corporation acknowledging a debt and providing for payment of interest at fixed intervals.
2 US (in full debenture bond) a fixed-interest bond of a company or corporation, backed by general credit rather than specified assets.
Phrases and idioms:
debenture stock Brit. stock comprising debentures, with only the interest secured.
Etymology: ME f. L debentur are owing f. debere owe: assim. to -URE