By extension, any influence which is compounded or used to gain an advantage.
(finance) 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.
(business) The ability to earn very high returns when operating at high capacity utilization of a facility.
Verb
(transitive, chiefly US, slang, business) To use; to exploit; to manipulate in order to take full advantage (of something).
