Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
learning
learning by doing
learning curve
learning disability
learning-disabled
learning theory
learnt
leary
lease
lease-purchase agreement
leaseback
leased department
leased line
leasehold
leash
leash law
least
Click to move down the list of words
Print Preview
See pronunciation key
Search for "lease" in all of MSN Encarta
E-mail this entry
Blog about this entry on MSN Spaces
Download the MSN Encarta Right-Click Dictionary

lease

lease [ leess ]


noun  (plural leas·es)
Definition:
 
1. rental contract: a legal contract allowing somebody exclusive possession of another's property for a specific time in return for a payment

2. length of lease: the period of time covered by a lease



transitive verb  (past and past participle leased, present participle leas·ing, 3rd person present singular leas·es)
Definition:
 
1. rent property to somebody: to allow somebody to use property under the terms of a lease

2. rent property from somebody: to rent property from somebody under the terms of a lease
We've leased a cottage from friends.

[14th century. < Anglo-Norman les< lesser "to lease," variant of Old French laissier (see leash)]

leas·a·ble adjective
leas·er noun

a new lease on life renewed freshness or vigor, usually resulting from a minor change

Advertisement

Also on Encarta
Englishtown: Learn English online
Our Partners
Also on MSN
Encarta Message Boards (© Rubberball/Jupiterimages)
Shopping
© 2009 Microsoft