lendlend /lend/ verb (past tensepst and past participlepp lent /lent/)1[intransitiveI, transitiveT]BANKING if a bank or financial institution lends money, it lets a person or organization borrow it on condition that they pay it back, with an additional amount as interest, usually gradually over an agreed period of timeOnce again, the government is encouraging banks to lend.
lend something to somebodyLast year, financial institutions lent over $30 billion to new businesses.
→ see also overlend —lending noun [uncountableU]stiff controls on bank lending
2[transitiveT] to let someone borrow money from you or use something that you own, which they will give back to you laterlend somebody somethingCan you lend me $20 till Friday?
lend something to somebodyNeighbouring countries offered to lend rescue equipment to the city authorities after the earthquake.
3lend strength/support to support or help someone or somethingThe bond market rally yesterday also lent some strength to the stock market.
The dollar’s weakness has lent support to precious metals prices.