lease

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A legal contract that lets someone use property for a set time in return for payment.

   They signed a two-year lease on the flat.

2. 2
   verb

   To rent property, either as the owner or the tenant, under a lease.

   I'm leasing a small apartment while I'm here for work.

3. 3
   noun

   The period of time that a lease lasts.

   The lease runs out at the end of the year.

From Middle English *lesen, from Anglo-Norman *leser, Old French lesser, laisier (“to let, let go”), partly from Latin laxō (“to loose”) and partly from Old High German lāzan (“to let, let go, release”) (German lassen), cognate with Old English lǣtan (“to allow, let go, leave, rent”) whence let.

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