lease

¹

[lees]

noun

1. a contract renting land, buildings, etc., to another; a contract or instrument conveying property to another for a specified period or for a period determinable at the will of either lessor or lessee in consideration of rent or other compensation.

2. the property leased.

3. the period of time for which a lease is made.

   a five-year lease.

verb (used with object)

leased, leasing 

1. to grant the temporary possession or use of (lands, tenements, etc.) to another, usually for compensation at a fixed rate; let.

   She plans to lease her apartment to a friend.

2. to take or hold by lease.

   He leased the farm from the sheriff.

   Synonyms: hire, charter, rent

verb (used without object)

leased, leasing 

1. to grant a lease; let or rent.

   to lease at a lower rental.

lease

²

[lees]

noun

Textiles.

1. a system for keeping the warp in position and under control by alternately crossing the warp yarn over and under the lease rods.

2. the order of drawing in the warp ends.

lease

¹

/ liːs /

noun

1. a contract by which property is conveyed to a person for a specified period, usually for rent

2. the instrument by which such property is conveyed

3. the period of time for which it is conveyed

4. a prospect of renewed health, happiness, etc

   a new lease of life

verb

1. to grant possession of (land, buildings, etc) by lease

2. to take a lease of (property); hold under a lease

lease

²

/ liːz /

noun

1. dialect,  open pasture or common

lease

1. A contract that grants possession of property for a specified period of time in return for some kind of compensation.

Other Word Forms

• leasable adjective
• leaseless adjective
• leaser noun
• unleasable adjective
• unleased adjective
• well-leased adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lease¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English les, from Anglo-French les, Old French lais, leis, noun derivative of lesser “to lease,” literally, “let go,” ultimately from Latin laxāre to release; lax

Origin of lease²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English lese “length or coil of thread,” variant of lesh leash

Word History and Origins

Origin of lease¹

C15: via Anglo-French from Old French lais (n), from laissier to let go, from Latin laxāre to loosen

Origin of lease²

Old English lǣs; perhaps related to Old Norse lāth property

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. a new lease on life, a chance to improve one's situation or to live longer or more happily.

   Plastic surgery gave him a new lease on life.

see new lease on life.

Example Sentences

Other property owners working with the Nightfall Group also leased their long-term rentals as short-term rentals for use as party houses, Soto said.

From Los Angeles Times

A financially troubled skyscraper in downtown Los Angeles has gone into receivership as office landlords there struggle to keep their buildings leased.

From Los Angeles Times

Cygnet had long outgrown its technologically outdated, barnlike theater in Old Town San Diego, its lease was uncertain and its operations were scattered around the area, notes Sean Murray, the Cygnet’s co-founder and artistic director.

From Los Angeles Times

It came from a longtime client who knew which house they wanted and locked it in before it was blocked by a long-term lease.

From Los Angeles Times

"It is worrying because it's taking away that lease of life from people who can't afford it. It is expensive as it is," she said.

From BBC

Related Words

• charter 
• hire 
• rent out www.thesaurus.com
• sublet