Meaning of hire In English

• 0 to pay to use something for a short period:

  • How much would it cost to hire a car for the weekend?

  • You could always hire a dress for the ball if you can't afford to buy one.

  • I was hired by the first company I applied to.

  • [ + to infinitive ] We ought to hire a public relations consultant to help improve our image.

• 1 an arrangement to use something by paying for it:

  • The price includes flights and car hire.

  • a hire car

  • There's a camping shop in town that has tents for hire (= available to be hired) at £30 a week.

• 2 a person to whom a company has recently given a job:

  • She's our latest hire.

• 3 to start to employ someone:

  • You ought to hire a lawyer to handle your taxes.

• 4 an employee:

  • Those retiring will be replaced by new hires.

• 5 to employ someone in a permanent job:

  • Increased business means that the company will need to hire 15 new sales staff.

  • hire sb as sth A supervisor noticed her potential and hired her as a trading trainee.

  • be hired by sb/sth Employees hired by a public agency after July 1 will automatically be enrolled in the new contribution plan.

  • Managers are given a free hand in hiring and firing employees.

• 6 to pay a person or company to do a particular job for a short period of time:

  • We will hire a contractor to consider what can be done that is cost effective.

• 7 to pay to use something for a short period of time:

  • They hired a billboard in a prominent position on Oxford Street to promote the event.

• 8 an arrangement in which someone pays to use something for a short period:

  • car/equipment/plant hire Prices include return flights and car hire.

  • There are plenty of cars available for hire.

  • a hire business/company/firm

• 9 a person who a company or organization employs in a permanent job:

  • additional/fresh/new hires Three-quarters of the debt-collection industry's new hires quit after just three months.