[chahr-ter] 
| 1. | a document, issued by a sovereign or state, outlining the conditions under which a corporation, colony, city, or other corporate body is organized, and defining its rights and privileges. |
| 2. | (often initial capital letter ) a document defining the formal organization of a corporate body; constitution: the Charter of the United Nations. |
| 3. | authorization from a central or parent organization to establish a new branch, chapter, etc. |
| 4. | a grant by a sovereign power creating a corporation, as the royal charters granted to British colonies in America. |
| 5. | Also called charter party. a contract by which part or all of a ship is leased for a voyage or a stated time. |
| 6. | a tour, vacation, or trip by charter arrangement: The travel agency is offering charters to Europe and the Caribbean. |
| 7. | special privilege or immunity. |
| 8. | to establish by charter: to charter a bank. |
| 9. | to lease or hire for exclusive use: The company will charter six buses for the picnic. |
| 10. | to give special favor or privilege to. |
| 11. | of or pertaining to a method of travel in which the transportation is specially leased or hired for members of a group or association: a charter flight to Europe. |
| 12. | that can be leased or hired for exclusive or private use: a charter boat for deep-sea fishing. |
| 13. | done or held in accordance with a charter: a charter school. |
charter party
contract by which the owner of a ship lets it to others for use in transporting a cargo. The shipowner continues to control the navigation and management of the vessel, but its carrying capacity is engaged by the charterer.
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