Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense leases, present participle leasing, past tense, past participle leased
1. countable noun
A lease is a legal agreement by which the owner of a building, a piece of land, or something such as a car allows someone else to use it for a period of time in return for money.
He took up a 10 year lease on the house at Rossie Priory. [+ on]
2. verb
If you lease property or something such as a car from someone or if they lease it to you, they allow you to use it in return for regular payments of money.
He went to Toronto, where he leased an apartment. [VERB noun]
She hopes to lease the building to students. [VERB noun + to]
He will need more grazing land and perhaps La Prade could lease him a few acres. [VERB noun noun]
Synonyms: hire, rent, let, loan More Synonyms of lease
3.
See a new lease of life
lease in British English1
(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(transitive)
5.
to grant possession of (land, buildings, etc) by lease
6.
to take a lease of (property); hold under a lease
Derived forms
leasable (ˈleasable)
adjective
leaser (ˈleaser)
noun
Word origin
C15: via Anglo-French from Old French lais (n), from laissier to let go, from Latin laxāre to loosen
lease in British English2
(liːz)
noun
dialect
open pasture or common
Word origin
Old English lǣs; perhaps related to Old Norse lāth property
lease in American English
(lis)
noun
1.
a contract by which one party (landlord, or lessor) gives to another (tenant, or lessee) the use and possession of lands, buildings, property, etc. for a specified timeand for fixed payments
2.
the period of time for which such a contract is in force
a two-year lease
3.
the property that is leased
verb transitiveWord forms: leased or ˈleasing
4.
to give by a lease; let
5.
to get by a lease; take a lease on
SIMILAR WORDS: hire
Idioms:
new lease on life
Derived forms
leasable (ˈleasable)
adjective
leaser (ˈleaser)
noun
Word origin
ME leas < Anglo-Fr les < OFr lais < laissier: see leash
lease in Accounting1
(lis)
Word forms: (present) leases, (past) leased, (perfect) leased, (progressive) leasing
verb
(Accounting: Commerce)
If you lease an asset such as a car or building or lease it from someone, you pay them, and they allow you to use it.
The company is being squeezed by competitors as well as customer preferences forleasing rather than buying systems.
The threat of further industrial action has involved the company in commitments tolease planes from other airlines.
If you lease an asset such as a car or building or lease it from someone, you pay them, and they allow you to use it.
lease in Accounting2
(lis)
Word forms: (regular plural) leases
noun
(Accounting: Commerce)
A lease is a legal agreement that allows someone to pay money so that they can use an asset such as a car or building for a particular period of time.
The lease on the building will be up in May.
They signed a lease for 426,000 square feet of office space.
A lease is a legal agreement that allows someone to pay money so that they can use an assetsuch as a car or building for a particular period of time.
capital lease, lease with option to buy
More idioms containing
lease
a new lease of life
Examples of 'lease' in a sentence
lease
Part of the land is leased to a conservation project.
The Sun (2016)
This mental discipline will be the key to your new lease of life.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It has given me a new lease of life.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She says the renovations were agreed by her predecessor and that the lease agreement requires the building be looked after.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The land transaction tax will be payable on the purchase or lease of a building or land over a certain price.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Their lease allowed the lettings agent to raise the rent by 10 % a year.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I really do think it has given me a new lease of life.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But now the Cumbrians are enjoying a new lease of life in their refurbished ground and are currently second.
The Sun (2016)
On Sunday Nicole gained a new lease of life as it grew into a hurricane once more.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They were taught in two classes in a leased building.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
You must feel as if you have been given a new lease of life?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The law allows foreigners to hold long leases on land and to buy most kinds of flats.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The factory was built and the lease granted.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
She asked if she should renew the lease on her apartment.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Most airlines do not own aircraft but rent them from leasing companies.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
We need to look at the tax benefits of leasing cars when the current ones need replacing.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We have been given a new lease of life.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The vendor will continue to lease the building.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Yet he loves the sport for the fresh lease of life it has given him.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Some of the land will be leased to farmers.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In due course the sale was completed and the lease was granted.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
He has taken permanent residence in the city and leased an apartment.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
This can happen if a tenant does not object to conditions that exist at the time of the lease.
Christianity Today (2000)
It is quite common for the ground rent to be fixed at the same figure for the whole period of the lease.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But the houses are largely leased to embassies, ambassadorial residences and a sprinkling of billionaires.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It will run jets for owners, leasing them out when they are not using them.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Over the period of the lease the cost of repairs works out at 12,500 a month.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Some of its 100 stores are rented on expensive leases.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But leases usually allow flats to access the other property for repairs, so check if this is also true for improvements.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Ask your vet to recommend a pet shop; and always check that your lease or landlord allows pets before you buy one.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
I've got the lease of my house up.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
lease
British English: lease /liːs/ NOUN
A lease is a legal agreement under which someone pays money to another person in exchange for the use of a building or piece of land for a specified period of time.
He took a 10-year lease on the house.
American English: lease
Arabic: عَقْدُ الإِيجَارِ
Brazilian Portuguese: arrendamento
Chinese: 租借
Croatian: zakup
Czech: nájemní smlouva
Danish: lejemål
Dutch: lease
European Spanish: usufructo
Finnish: vuokrasopimus
French: bail
German: Pacht
Greek: μισθωτήριο
Italian: locazione
Japanese: 賃貸借契約
Korean: 임대차계약
Norwegian: leie
Polish: dzierżawa
European Portuguese: arrendamento
Romanian: contract de închiriere
Russian: аренда
Latin American Spanish: usufructo
Swedish: hyreskontrakt
Thai: สัญญาเช่า
Turkish: kira sözleşmesi
Ukrainian: оренда
Vietnamese: hợp đồng cho thuê
British English: lease /liːs/ VERB
If you lease property or something such as a car, or if someone leases it to you, they allow you to use it in return for regular payments of money.
He leased an apartment.
American English: lease
Arabic: يُؤَجِّر
Brazilian Portuguese: arrendar
Chinese: 出租
Croatian: zakupiti
Czech: pronajmout (si)
Danish: leje
Dutch: leasen
European Spanish: arriendo contrato
Finnish: vuokrata
French: louer
German: pachten
Greek: εκμισθώνω
Italian: affittare
Japanese: 賃貸借する
Korean: 임대(임차)하다
Norwegian: leie
Polish: wziąć w dzierżawę
European Portuguese: arrendar
Romanian: a închiria
Russian: сдавать в аренду
Latin American Spanish: arriendo
Swedish: hyra
Thai: เช่า
Turkish: kiralamak
Ukrainian: здавати (брати) в оренду
Vietnamese: cho thuê
All related terms of 'lease'
re-lease
to lease again
lease-back
an arrangement by which a company sells a property and simultaneously obtains a long-term lease from the buyer for continued use of the deeded property
lease-lend
material assistance to an ally
lend-lease
(during World War II) the system organized by the US in 1941 by which equipment and services were provided for countries fighting Germany
long lease
(in England and Wales ) a lease , originally for a period of over 21 years, on a whole house of low rent and ratable value, which is the occupants ' only or main residence . The leaseholder is entitled to buy the freehold , claim an extension of 50 years, or become a statutory tenant
capital lease
A capital lease is a lease that is treated as the purchase of the asset that is being leased.
novated lease
Australian system of employer-aided car purchase
new lease on life
another chance to lead a happy life, be successful , etc. because of a new turn of events
a new lease of life
If you say that someone or something has been given a new lease of life , you are emphasizing that they are much more lively or successful than they have been in the past .
sale and lease back
a system of raising capital for a business by selling the business property and then renting it from the new owner for an agreed period
lease with option to buy
A lease with option to buy is a lease that states that the person leasing the property has the right to purchase it at the end of the lease period .