Len

pos>n. (Physics.) Rays emanating from the outer surface of a plate composed of any material permeable by cathode rays, as aluminium, which forms a portion of a wall of a vacuum tube, or which is mounted within the tube and exposed to radiation from the cathode. Lenard rays are similar in all their known properties to cathode rays. So called from the German physicist Philipp Lenard (b. 1862), who first described them. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. (Elec.) A tube for producing Lenard rays. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Lent p. pr. & vb. n. Lending. ] [ OE. lenen, AS. l&aemacr_;nan, fr. l&aemacr_;n loan; akin to G. lehnen to lend. See Loan. ] 1. To allow the custody and use of, on condition of the return of the same; to grant the temporary use of; as, to lend a book; -- opposed to borrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

Give me that ring.
I'll lend it thee, my dear, but have no power
To give it from me. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To allow the possession and use of, on condition of the return of an equivalent in kind; as, to lend money or some article of food. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase. Levit. xxv. 37. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To afford; to grant or furnish in general; as, to lend assistance; to lend one's name or influence. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cato, lend me for a while thy patience. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

Mountain lines and distant horizons lend space and largeness to his compositions. J. A. Symonds. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To let for hire or compensation; as, to lend a horse or gig. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This use of the word is rare in the United States, except with reference to money. [ 1913 Webster ]

To lend a hand, to give assistance; to help. [ Colloq. ] --
To lend one's ears or
To lend an ear, to give attention. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Such as can be lent. Sherwood. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who lends. [ 1913 Webster ]

The borrower is servant to the lender. Prov. xxii. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. pl. See Lends. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of one who lends. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is lent or furnished. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. the temporary transfer of goods and services to an ally to aid in a common cause; as, lend-lease during World War II was extremely generous.
Syn. -- lease-lend. [ WordNet 1.5 ]