An easement is best defined as the authorized use of another's property for a specific purpose. This legal concept allows one party to utilize a portion of another party's land without transferring ownership. Easements are commonly used for purposes such as access roads, utility lines, or drainage systems, where the holder of the easement has the right to use the land in a particular way, while the property owner retains ownership and rights to the property itself. The specificity of the allowed use is key, as easements are typically established through formal agreements and must adhere to stipulated conditions.
The other options do not accurately capture the essence of what an easement is. A temporary restriction on property use implies a limitation rather than a usage right, which is not what easements represent. Unauthorized entry onto another's property describes a trespass, which involves a lack of permission, contrasting sharply with the legal permission granted by an easement. Lastly, the process of transferring property ownership pertains to property sales or deeds, which is not related to the concept of easements. Therefore, the correct understanding of an easement is the authorized use of another's property for a specific purpose.