Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
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noun
A certificate that certifies an amount of money owed to someone; a certificate of indebtedness.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A certificate of a loan made to the government; a government bond.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A type of debt instrument secured only by the general credit or promise to pay of the issuer, not involving any physical assets or collateral, now commonly issued by large, well established corporations with adequate credit ratings.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: US
Topics: business, finance
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A document granting lenders a charge over a borrower’s physical assets, giving them a means to collect a debt, as part of a secured loan.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK
Topics: business, finance
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
a certificate or voucher acknowledging a debt
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: legal document, legal instrument, official document, instrument
noun
the ability of a customer to obtain goods or services before payment, based on the trust that payment will be made in the future
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: unsecured bond, debenture bond
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: bond, bond certificate
History
From earlier debentur, from Latin debentur (“they are owing”), supposedly the first word of such a document in early times. The ending was apparently influenced by words in -(t)ure.
Across languages
16 source translations are retained for this English entry.
