n. & v.
—n.
1 something lent, esp. a sum of money to be returned normally with interest.
2 the act of lending or state of being lent.
3 funds acquired by the State, esp. from individuals, and regarded as a debt.
4 a word, custom, etc., adopted by one people from another.
—v.tr. lend (esp. money).
Phrases and idioms:
loan shark colloq. a person who lends money at exorbitant rates of interest. loan-translation an expression adopted by one language from another in a more or less literally translated form. on loan acquired or given as a loan.
Derivatives:
loanable adj. loanee n. loaner n.
Etymology: ME lan f. ON laacuten f. Gmc: cf. LEND
2.
n. (also loaning) Sc.
1 a lane.
2 an open place where cows are milked.
Etymology: ME var. of LANE
Useful english dictionary. 2012.