lending
lending — noun
1. the activity of giving money or property to someone with the understanding that
the activity of giving money or property to someone with the understanding that it will be returned later, often with extra payment when the loan is money.
Stricter lending by local banks made it harder for new restaurants to open.
finance use: stricter lending by banks
After the storm, community lending helped several families replace damaged tools.
The charity's small-scale lending gave farmers time to buy seed before spring.
Government reports showed a sharp drop in mortgage lending last winter.
- borrowing
describes receiving money or property from the other side of the same exchange.
文法句型
lending + to + borrower
bank/private/consumer lending
lending + activity/practice
用法筆記
Often used in banking and business reports rather than in very informal speech. It can refer to money, but in broader contexts it can also describe the temporary giving of books, tools, or other property.
常見錯誤
lending — verb
1. giving someone an object for a limited time and expecting the same thing to come
giving someone an object for a limited time and expecting the same thing to come back later.
Élise is lending her bike to a neighbor because his train pass has expired.
pattern: be lending + object + to + person
Adina kept lending kitchen bowls to friends during the school festival.
Amihan was lending camping gear to cousins who arrived without bags.
The museum is lending a Roman coin to the town library this month.
- borrow
focuses on the person who receives and uses the item.
文法句型
be lending + object + to + person
lending + object for a short time
用法筆記
Use this sense for physical things or other items that are expected back in the same form. The receiver is usually introduced with 'to'.
常見錯誤
2. giving out money that borrowers must repay later, usually with interest, especia
giving out money that borrowers must repay later, usually with interest, especially as part of the regular work of a bank, credit union, or similar lender.
Regional banks are still lending to family farms despite the dry season.
finance use: banks are lending to borrowers
Elena's credit union began lending small amounts to street vendors last year.
pattern: lending money to small borrowers
The bank stopped lending after factory closures raised fears about unpaid debt.
Romi works for a company that is lending millions to solar builders this year.
- borrow
describes taking the money rather than providing it.
文法句型
be lending + money + to + borrower
banks are lending
lending at + rate
用法筆記
This sense is most often used about banks, credit unions, governments, or other organized lenders. It focuses on money, not on ordinary objects such as books or tools.
常見錯誤
3. adding a particular feeling, appearance, or character to something.
adding a particular feeling, appearance, or character to something.
Soft lamps are lending the cafe a calmer mood during the evening rush.
pattern: lend + place + a quality
A silver frame was lending the photo an old-fashioned elegance.
Adaeze's careful pauses were lending her speech a note of seriousness.
Morning fog is lending the river a mysterious look in these photographs.
- remove
focuses on taking away a quality instead of adding one.
文法句型
be lending + object + a quality
lending + tone/air/feeling to + thing
用法筆記
The subject is usually something that creates an effect, such as light, color, music, weather, or a person's behavior. The object receives the new quality.
常見錯誤
4. being naturally suitable for a purpose or easy to think about in a particular wa
being naturally suitable for a purpose or easy to think about in a particular way.
The wide kitchen is lending itself to large family meals during the holiday.
phrase: lend itself to + activity
Christopher's short article is lending itself well to classroom discussion.
phrase: lend itself well to + noun
The dry soil was not lending itself to planting young trees after the heatwave.
This simple chart is lending itself to several useful comparisons in class.
- resist
suggests that something does not easily allow or support a use.
文法句型
be lending itself to + noun
not lending itself to + activity
用法筆記
This sense almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'lend itself to'. It is usually used about plans, spaces, materials, or ideas that fit a certain use easily.