a system by which libraries borrow publications from other libraries
2.
a.
an instance of such borrowing
b.
a publication so borrowed
interlibrary loan in American English
noun
1.
a system by which one library obtains a work for a user by borrowing it from another library
2.
a loan made by this system
Word origin
[1925–30; inter- + library]This word is first recorded in the period 1925–30. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: distinctive feature, dropout, payload, recycle, reflex camerainter- is a prefix occurring in loanwords from Latin, where it meant “between,” “among,”“in the midst of,” “mutually,” “reciprocally,” “together,” “during” (intercept; interest). On this model, inter- is used in the formation of compound words (intercom; interdepartmental)
Examples of 'interlibrary loan' in a sentence
interlibrary loan
If it doesn't have a book you want, you can request it as an interlibrary loan or suggest that it buys a copy.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The number of interlibrary loans increased from 14,306 to 15,386.