Leisten

Leisten is a German verb with several related senses. In its core meaning it denotes performing, accomplishing, or rendering a service. It is used with objects such as eine Leistung, eine Aufgabe, or einen Beitrag: zum Beispiel eine gute Arbeit leisten, eine Aufgabe leisten, einen Beitrag leisten. A related sense is sich etwas leisten, meaning to be able to afford something: Sie kann sich ein neues Auto leisten. The phrase Widerstand leisten means to resist or oppose something, as in Widerstand gegen Druck leisten.

Grammatically, leisten is a regular (weak) verb. It forms the simple past as leistete and the past participle as geleistet, with the auxiliary haben: Ich habe eine gute Leistung geleistet.

Leiste is a noun related to leisten in meaning but distinct in usage. Die Leiste denotes a narrow strip of wood, plastic, or metal used as trim, edging, or a mounting element. Leisten appear in carpentry, furniture making, and interior or exterior construction. Typical examples include eine Holzleiste, eine Zierleiste, oder Verkleidungsleisten. The plural Leisten refers to multiple such strips and is common in phrases like Treppenleisten or Verkleidungsleisten.

In summary, leisten covers action and achievement in the sense of performing tasks, delivering results, or affording things, as well as a related lexical noun Leiste, which designates a physical strip used in construction and decoration. The terms are connected by the general idea of providing or supporting through a measurable degree of material or effort.