finance

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)The management of money and other assets.

   “And statesmen as well ought to know these things; for a state is often as much in want of money and of such devices for obtaining it as a household, or even more so; hence some public men devote themselves entirely to finance.”

   “Finance is seldom romantic. But the idea of peer-to-peer lending comes close. This is an industry that brings together individual savers and lenders on online platforms. Those that want to borrow are matched with those that want to lend.”

2. (countable, uncountable)The science of management of money and other assets.
3. (countable, plural-normally, uncountable)Monetary resources, especially those of a public entity or a company.

   “Who's really in charge of a democracy's finances?”

4. (countable, uncountable)The provision of a loan, payment instalment terms, or similar arrangement, to enable a customer to purchase an item without paying the full amount straight away.

   “Finance on all our new cars is provided by ABC Loans Ltd.”

verb

1. (intransitive)To conduct, or procure money for, financial operations; manage finances.
2. (intransitive, obsolete)To pay ransom.
3. (transitive)To manage financially; be financier for; provide or obtain funding for a transaction or undertaking.

   “His parents financed his college education.”

   “He financed his home purchase through a local credit union.”

   “Therefore, when assets are examined together with other problems, such as one-sided contracts or delays in payment, the argument for financing construction projects is substantially weakened.”

   “This is not a historical novel yet it is in a sense historical and contained within this book is a true story of how America was financed.”

4. (obsolete, transitive)To extort ransom from.