Noun

1. A force compounded by means of a lever rotating around a pivot; see torque.

   A crowbar uses leverage to pry nails out of wood.

2. By extension, any influence which is compounded or used to gain an advantage.

   Try using competitors’ prices for leverage in the negotiation.

3. The use of borrowed funds with a contractually determined return to increase the ability of a business to invest and earn an expected higher return, but usually at high risk.

   Leverage is great until something goes wrong with your investments and you still have to pay your debts.
4. The ability to earn very high returns when operating at high capacity utilization of a facility.

   Their variable-cost-reducing investments have dramatically increased their leverage.

Verb

1. To use; to exploit; to take full advantage of an existing thing.

   They plan to leverage the publicity they gained.