lien lien /lian; lin/ n (legal) legal claim (upon property) until a debt on it is repaid: (法律)留置權(quán)(扣押財(cái)產(chǎn)以待償是借款的權(quán)利，后接 upon)： A shipping company has a ~ upon cargo until the freight is paid. 航運(yùn)公司對于運(yùn)貨有留置到運(yùn)費(fèi)付淸始可提貨的權(quán)利。