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Donation vs Loan - What's the difference?

donation | loan |

As nouns the difference between donation and loan

is that donation is a voluntary gift or contribution for a specific cause while loan is a sum of money or other valuables or consideration that an individual, group or other legal entity borrows from another individual, group or legal entity (the latter often being a financial institution) with the condition that it be returned or repaid at a later date (sometimes with interest).

As a verb loan is

to lend (something) to (someone).

donation

Noun

(en noun)
  • A voluntary gift or contribution for a specific cause.
  • See also

    * fundraising ----

    loan

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) lone, lane, from (etyl) . More at (l).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (banking, finance) A sum of money or other valuables or consideration that an individual, group or other legal entity borrows from another individual, group or legal entity (the latter often being a financial institution) with the condition that it be returned or repaid at a later date (sometimes with interest).
  • *
  • , title=The Mirror and the Lamp , chapter=2 citation , passage=That the young Mr. Churchills liked—but they did not like him coming round of an evening and drinking weak whisky-and-water while he held forth on railway debentures and corporation loans . Mr. Barrett, however, by fawning and flattery, seemed to be able to make not only Mrs. Churchill but everyone else do what he desired.}}
  • The contract and array of legal or ethical obligations surrounding a loan.
  • The permission to borrow any item.
  • Hypernyms
    * (something that a legal entity borrows) bailment
    Hyponyms
    * (something that a legal entity borrows) mutuum
    Derived terms
    * bridge loan * caveat loan * loan shark * low-doc loan * swing loan

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To lend (something) to (someone).
  • * 2006: — (unidentified episode, but frequently heard from her as a verb)
  • When you loan somebody something, they have the responsibility to safeguard it.
    Usage notes
    * This usage, once widespread in the UK, is now confined to the US (or perhaps parts thereof). * It is often considered preferable to use lend when the object being loaned or lent is something other than money.

    Etymology 2

    See lawn.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (Scotland) A lonnen.
  • (Webster 1913)

    Anagrams

    * ----