(~s, ~ing, lent)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
When people or organizations such as banks ~ 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.
The bank is reassessing its criteria for ~ing money...
I had to ~ him ten pounds to take his children to the pictures.
...financial de-regulation that led to institutions being more willing to ~.
VERB: V n, V n n, V, also V n to n, V to n
~ing
...a financial institution that specializes in the ~ing of money.
...a slump in bank ~ing.
N-UNCOUNT: usu with supp
2.
If you ~ something that you own, you allow someone to have it or use it for a period of time.
Will you ~ me your jacket for a little while?...
He had lent the bungalow to the Conrads for a couple of weeks.
VERB: V n n, V n to n
3.
If you ~ your support to someone or something, you help them with what they are doing or with a problem that they have.
He was approached by the organisers to ~ support to a benefit concert...
Stipe attended yesterday’s news conference to ~ his support.
= give
VERB: V n to n, V n, also V n n
4.
If something ~s itself to a particular activity or result, it is easy for it to be used for that activity or to achieve that result.
The room ~s itself well to summer eating with its light, airy atmosphere.
VERB: V pron-refl to n
5.
If something ~s a particular quality to something else, it adds that quality to it.
Enthusiastic applause lent a sense of occasion to the proceedings...
A more relaxed regime and regular work ~s the inmates a dignity not seen in other prisons.
VERB: V n to n, V n n, also V n
6.
see also lent
7.
to ~ an ear: see ear
to ~ a hand: see hand