Definition

1. Verb:
   • To give something to someone for a temporary period, expecting it to be returned: The core meaning involves granting the temporary use of money or an item.
   • To contribute or add a quality to something: To provide or bestow a particular characteristic, atmosphere, or feature.
   • To be suitable or adaptable for a particular purpose: To have qualities that make something appropriate for a specific use.

Examples of Usage

• Verb (To give temporarily):
  • Could you lend me your pen for a moment?
  • The bank agreed to lend the company the necessary funds.
• Verb (To add a quality):
  • The fresh flowers lend a cheerful atmosphere to the room.
  • His experience lends credibility to his advice.
• Verb (To be suitable for):
  • The novel's complex plot lends itself to detailed analysis.
  • This quiet courtyard lends itself to peaceful meditation.

Advanced Usage

• "lend itself to (something)": To be suitable for or adaptable to a particular purpose, treatment, or use.
  • The flexible design lends itself to various modifications.
• "lend a hand": To help or assist.
  • We need to finish this project; can you lend a hand?
• "lend an ear": To listen attentively.
  • He's always willing to lend an ear to a friend in need.
• "lend credence/support/weight to": To make something seem more believable or important.
  • The new evidence lends credence to the original theory.

Variants and Related Words

• Lender (n): A person or institution that lends money or goods.
• Loan (n/v): A sum of money that is lent; to lend (especially money). Note: In formal American English, "loan" is traditionally a noun, and "lend" is the verb, though "loan" is commonly used as a verb informally.

Synonyms

• Advance (to provide money before it is due).
• Grant (to agree to give or allow).
• Impart (to give a quality or information).
• Bestow (to confer or present).
• Furnish (to provide or supply).

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Lend out: To give multiple items or sums for temporary use.
  • The library lends out thousands of books every week.

Related Idioms

• Lend color to: To make something seem more believable or likely.
  • His nervous behavior lent color to the suspicion that he was hiding something.
• Lend your name to: To allow your name to be associated with a product or cause to support it.
  • The famous actor lent his name to the environmental campaign.

Verb

1. have certain characteristics of qualities for something; be open or vulnerable to
   • This story would lend itself well to serialization on television
   • The current system lends itself to great abuse
2. give temporarily; let have for a limited time
   • I will lend you my car
   • loan me some money
3. bestow a quality on
   • Her presence lends a certain cachet to the company
   • The music added a lot to the play
   • She brings a special atmosphere to our meetings
   • This adds a light note to the program