lend to

lend (something) to (one)

To allow one to borrow or make use of something temporarily. I can lend $20 to you, but I'll need it back by this weekend. Would you mind lending your pencil to me? I forgot to bring one. The bank agreed to lend the money for the refurbishments to our company.

lend something to someone

to make a loan of something to someone. Never lend money to a friend. Would you be able to lend your coat to Fred?

lend (itself) to

To accommodate or offer itself to; be suitable for: "The presidency does not lend itself to on the job training" (Joe Biden).

See also: lend

References in classic literature ?

The one, that the tooth of usury be grinded, that it bite not too much; the other, that there be left open a means, to invite moneyed men to lend to the merchants, for the continuing and quickening of trade.

Secondly, let there be certain persons licensed, to lend to known merchants, upon usury at a higher rate; and let it be with the cautions following.

View in context

To this end, section 142 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 (FDICIA) sets time periods beyond which the Federal Reserve may not lend to institutions below minimum capital standards without incurring a potential limited liability to the FDIC (see box, "FDICIA and the Discount Window").

Section 142 of FDICIA amended section 10B of the Federal Reserve Act to set time periods beyond which the Federal Reserve may not lend to undercapitalized and critically undercapitalized institutions without incurring a potential limited liability to the FDIC.

Recent developments in discount window policy

That statement sought to encourage banks to lend to sound borrowers and to work constructively with borrowers experiencing temporary financial difficulties, provided they did so in a manner consistent with safe and sound banking practices.

Statement by John P. LaWare, Member, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Before the Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs, U.S. House of Representatives, July 30, 1992