3 meanings
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1 —as in:
collateral for a loan
Definition
something of value pledged for the repayment of a loan- They pledged their home as collateral.
collateral = something of value pledged for the repayment of a loan
Other Uses (with this meaning)
- The bank wouldn't lend them money because they didn't have anything to pledge as collateral.
- "I didn't say we should back it," Mama said, "but we're just about the only family with any collateral at all."Mildred D. Taylor -- Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
- "We loan money, and take objects of value as collateral," he tells the kid.Neal Shusterman -- Unwind
- The work brought him modest honoraria and offerings, enough to allow him to pay his bills and buy a $150 used DeSoto, finally replacing the car that he'd lost as loan collateral.Laura Hillenbrand -- Unbroken
- His money gone, Louie had to tap a friend for a $1,000 loan, staking his Chevy convertible as collateral.Laura Hillenbrand -- Unbroken
- And he knew that the banks did not want his collateral which they held.London, Jack -- Burning Daylight
collateral = something of value pledged for the repayment of a loan
collateral = something of value that can be pledged for the repayment of a loan
collateral = something of value that can be pledged for the repayment of a loan
collateral = something of value pledged for the repayment of a loan
collateral = something of value pledged for the repayment of a loan
collateral = something of value pledged for the repayment of a loan
2 —as in:
collateral evidence
Definition
accompanying or connected in some way, but less important- In addition to the fingerprints, there was other collateral evidence.
collateral = accompanying or connected in some way, but less important
Other Uses (with this meaning)
- In addition to short-term profitability, we need to consider numerous collateral issues that arise from outsourcing.
- I kept half a dozen membership cards working in the free library and did an immense amount of collateral reading.London, Jack -- John Barleycorn
- I had ninety pounds a year (exclusive of my house-rent and sundry collateral matters) from my aunt.Dickens, Charles -- David Copperfield
- ...of any collateral or remote branch of your ladyship's family?Dickens, Charles -- Bleak House
- In his bright radiance and collateral lightShakespeare, William -- All's Well that End's Well
- But as you and Frank have made a little money, I know you'll never be driven to me again with any interesting propositions of loans and collaterals.Margaret Mitchell -- Gone with the Wind
- But Helen's laugh rang true, as she raised a soapy hand to heaven and swore that never, nowhere and nohow, would she again fall in love with any of the Wilcox family, down to its remotest collaterals.E.M. Forster -- Howards End
collateral = accompanying or connected in some way, but less important
collateral = accompanying or connected in some way, but less important
collateral = accompanying or connected in some way, but less important
collateral = accompanying or connected in some way, but less important
collateral = accompanying or connected in some way, but less important
3 —as in:
collateral damage in the battle
Definition
unintentional damage to life or property — usually as a result of an act of war- They risked bombing from low altitude to try to minimize collateral damage.
collateral damage = unintentional damage to life or property — usually as a result of an act of war
Other Uses (with this meaning)
- He is liable for direct damage both to your chimneys and any collateral damage caused by fall of bricks into garden, etc.Kipling, Rudyard -- Actions and Reactions
- Collateral damage, Rafa had said.Junot Diaz -- Drown
- More like me are coming, and I can guarantee the collateral damage they do will make what I did to your friend seem downright charitable.Ransom Riggs -- Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
- To call them 'collateral damage' and not even try to count the numbers of the dead.Greg Mortenson & David Oliver Relin -- Three Cups of Tea
- Should we send a drone to kill him, considering the likelihood of moderate collateral damage?Dave Eggers -- The Circle
- It should be enough time to ensure minimal collateral damage.David Baldacci -- Zero Day
- That was his claim, at the time—now I think he probably felt the collateral damage was worth the end result.Cassandra Clare -- City of Bones
- Collateral damage, he thought.Stieg Larsson -- The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest
- She had not wanted their family to become collateral damage in a war that had no discernible fronts, no real shape, and no rules.Dave Eggers -- Zeitoun
collateral damage = unintentional damage to life or property — usually as a result of an act of war
collateral damage = unintentional damage to life or property — usually as a result of an act of war
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