/
dɪˈbɛntʃə/
n.
Brit. a long-term security yielding a fixed rate of interest, issued by a company and secured against assets.
▸
(also debenture bond)
N. Amer. an unsecured loan certificate issued by a company.
Etymology
ME: from L. debentur ‘are owing’ (from debere ‘owe’), used as the first word of a certificate recording a debt.
