lend
lend / lend/ • v. (past and past part. lent / lent/ ) [tr.] 1. grant to (someone) the use of (something) on the understanding that it shall be returned: Stewart asked me to lend him my car the pictures were lent to each museum in turn. ∎ allow (a person or organization) the use of (a sum of money) under an agreement to pay it back later, typically with interest: no one would lend him the money [intr.] the bank lends only to its current customers [as n.] (lending) balance sheets weakened by unwise lending. 2. contribute or add (something, esp. a quality) to: the smile lent his face a boyish charm.3. (lend oneself to) accommodate or adapt oneself to: John stiffly lent himself to her enthusiastic embraces. ∎ (lend itself to) (of a thing) be suitable for: bay windows lend themselves to blinds.PHRASES: lend an ear (or one's ears) listen sympathetically or attentively: the Samaritans lend their ears to those in crisis.lend a hand (or a helping hand) see give a hand at hand.lend one's name to allow oneself to be publicly associated with: he lent his name and prestige to the organizers of the project.DERIVATIVES: lend·a·ble adj.