1. A document issued by a sovereign, legislature, or other authority, creating a public or private corporation, such as a city, college, or bank, and defining its privileges and purposes.
2. A written grant from the sovereign power of a country conferring certain rights and privileges on a person, a corporation, or the people: A royal charter exempted the Massachusetts colony from direct interference by the crown.
3. A document outlining the principles, functions, and organization of a corporate body; a constitution: the city charter.
4. an authorization from a central organization to establish a local branch or chapter.
5. special privilege or immunity.
6. A contract for the commercial leasing of a vessel or space on a vessel.
7. the hiring or leasing of an aircraft, vessel, or other vehicle, especially for the exclusive, temporary use of a group of travelers.
8. A written instrument given as evidence of agreement, transfer, or contract; a deed.
9. of, relating to, or being an arrangement in which transportation is leased by a group of travelers for their exclusive, temporary use.
10. to grant a charter to; establish by charter.
11. to hire or lease by charter: charter an oil tanker.
12. to hire (a bus or airplane, for example) for the exclusive, temporary use of a group of travelers.

1. a document issued by some authority, creating a public or private institution, and defining its purposes and privileges
2. a similar document conferring rights and privileges on a person, corporation etc
3. a contract for the commercial leasing of a vessel, or space on a vessel
4. the temporary hiring or leasing of a vehicle
5. a deed
6. leased or hired
7. to grant or establish a charter
8. to lease or hire something by charter

1. A written evidence in due form of things done or granted, contracts made, etc., between man and man; a deed, or conveyance.
2. an instrument in writing, from the sovereign power of a state or country, executed in due form, bestowing rights, franchises, or privileges.
3. an act of a legislative body creating a municipal or other corporation and defining its powers and privileges. also, an instrument in writing from the constituted authorities of an order or society (as the freemasons), creating a lodge and defining its powers.
4. A special privilege, immunity, or exemption.
5. the letting or hiring a vessel by special contract, or the contract or instrument whereby a vessel is hired or let. see charter party, below.
6. to establish by charter.
7. to hire or let by charter, as a ship. see charter party, under charter, n.

1. to hire or let by charter, as a ship. see charterparty.
2. to establish by charter: as, to charter a bank.
3. A written instrument, expressed in formal terms and formally executed, given as evidence of a grant, contract, etc.; any instrument, executed with form and solemuity, bestowing rights and privileges.
4. privilege; immunity; exemption.
5. in com.: the letting or hiring of a ship by special contract: as, a ship is offered for sale or charter. the limits or terms of such a contract. the written instrument embodying the terms of the contract.
6. in eng. politics, a sort of claim of rights, or document embodying the demands or principles of the Chartists. see Chartist.

1. grant a charter to
2. hold under a lease or rental agreement; of goods and services
3. a document incorporating an institution and specifying its rights; includes the articles of incorporation and the certificate of incorporation
4. engage for service under a term of contract
5. a contract to hire or lease transportation