Definition

Noun (countable): - An establishment or office where loans are made or negotiated: A "loan-office" refers to a place, typically a business or government agency, where individuals or organizations can apply for and receive loans of money. - A place for receiving subscriptions to public loans: Historically, a "loan-office" could also be an office where people could purchase government bonds or contribute to public debt instruments.

Usage Examples

• (He visited the establishment that provides loans.)
• (The office handled subscriptions for government borrowing.)
• (The lending institution processed the loan.)

Advanced Usage

• "to run a loan-office": to operate a business that lends money.

  • My uncle runs a loan-office in the city centre. (He manages a lending establishment.)

• "loan-office clerk": an employee who handles loan applications and paperwork.

  • The loan-office clerk asked for my identification and income statements. (The staff member processed the loan request.)

Variants and Related Words

• Loan (noun): money lent at interest.

  • She took out a loan to buy a car. (She borrowed money from a bank.)

• Loan-shark (noun): a person who lends money at extremely high interest rates, often illegally.

  • Beware of loan-sharks who charge exorbitant fees. (Unscrupulous lenders who exploit borrowers.)

• Office (noun): a room or building where business is conducted.

  • The office was closed for the holiday. (The workplace was not open.)

Synonyms

• Lending institution: a bank or credit union that provides loans.
• Money-lending shop: a small business that lends money (often informal).
• Pawnbroker: a person or shop that lends money in exchange for personal property (though distinct from a loan-office).

Related Idioms

• "to be in the loan-office": to be employed or working at a lending establishment.
  • He has been in the loan-office for ten years. (He works at a place that makes loans.)

Historical Context

The term "loan-office" was more common in the 18th and 19th centuries, especially in the United States and Britain, where governments operated loan-offices to manage public debt or issue bonds. Today, it is less frequently used, replaced by terms like "bank," "credit union," or "lending department."