lend 
/ˈlɛnd/ verb
lends; lent /ˈlɛnd/ verb /ˈlɛnt/; lend·ing 1 a [+ obj] : to give (something) to (someone) to be used for a period of time and then returned
▪ She often lends us books. = She often lends books to us. ▪ Could you lend me your pen? [=could I borrow your pen?] ▪ I lent our ladder to the neighbors.
b : to give (money) to someone who agrees to pay it back in the future [+ obj] ▪ Can you lend me 50 cents? [=can I borrow 50 cents from you?] ▪ The bank wouldn't lend us the money. [no obj] ▪ Many banks won't lend to people with bad credit. 2 [+ obj] : to make (something) available to (someone or something)
▪ They offered to lend us their services. [=to provide us with their services] ▪ They are glad to lend their support to worthy causes. ▪ It's surprising that he would lend his name to such a venture. [=that he would allow his name to be associated with such a venture] 3 [+ obj] a : to add (something that is needed or wanted) to (something)
▪ A bit of grated carrot lends some color to the dish. = A bit of grated carrot lends the dish some color. ▪ A growing amount of evidence lends weight/credence/credibility to their theory. [=makes their theory seem true or correct]
b : to provide (something that is needed or wanted)
▪ She's always there to lend a (helping) hand. [=she's always there to help]
▪ She often lends us books. = She often lends books to us. ▪ Could you lend me your pen? [=could I borrow your pen?] ▪ I lent our ladder to the neighbors.
b : to give (money) to someone who agrees to pay it back in the future [+ obj] ▪ Can you lend me 50 cents? [=can I borrow 50 cents from you?] ▪ The bank wouldn't lend us the money. [no obj] ▪ Many banks won't lend to people with bad credit.
▪ They offered to lend us their services. [=to provide us with their services] ▪ They are glad to lend their support to worthy causes. ▪ It's surprising that he would lend his name to such a venture. [=that he would allow his name to be associated with such a venture]
▪ A bit of grated carrot lends some color to the dish. = A bit of grated carrot lends the dish some color. ▪ A growing amount of evidence lends weight/credence/credibility to their theory. [=makes their theory seem true or correct]
b : to provide (something that is needed or wanted)
▪ She's always there to lend a (helping) hand. [=she's always there to help]
lend an ear — see 1ear
lend itself to
◊Something that lends itself to a purpose is good or suitable for that purpose.
▪ Her voice lends itself well to (singing) opera. ▪ The topics lend themselves to classroom discussion.
▪ Her voice lends itself well to (singing) opera. ▪ The topics lend themselves to classroom discussion.
— lend·er noun, plural lend·ers [count]
▪ banks and other lenders ▪ borrowers and lenders — see also moneylender
▪ banks and other lenders ▪ borrowers and lenders — see also moneylender
