See Also: lease(7)(dictionary)
lease(5)(dictionary)
lease(4)(dictionary)
lease(3)(dictionary)
lease(2)(dictionary)
lease(1)(dictionary)
K-lease(health)
Net Lease(money)
LEASE(finance)
Net lease(finance)

lease(4) (iou)



lease noun3. [li:s] LME.
[Anglo-Norman les = Old French lais, leis, from spec. use of lesser, laissier (mod. laisser) let, leave from Latin laxare, from laxus loose, LAX adjective.]
A contract between parties by which one conveys property, esp. lands (later also rights, services, etc.) to the other for a prescribed term, or at will, usu. in consideration of a periodic payment; the instrument by which such a conveyance is made. LME.
Law Times The lease..had been lent..to the plaintiff..for perusal. E. Kuzwayo The 99-year leases..are now seen as an insecure piece of legislation. F. Wyndham My mother..was..trying to secure the lease of a small house in Knightsbridge. fig.: Shakespeare Macbeth Our high-plac'd Macbeth Shall live the lease of nature.
A piece of land held on lease. N. Amer. & Austral. L19.
M. Machlin There had also been several good shows of natural gas on neighbouring leases.
Phrases: missive of lease: see MISSIVE noun 2. new lease of life, (N. Amer.) new lease on life a substantially improved prospect of living, or of use after repair. wet lease: see WET adjective.
Comb.: leaseman an agent in the oil industry who negotiates leases of land for drilling and related matters.